Athens, Aug 28 (IANS/RIA Novosti): The Greek government has officially announced it was getting rid of a set of three jets as part of the debt-laden country's cost-cutting efforts.
A government statement Monday said Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has instructed officials to transfer the biggest of the planes, a Brazilian-made Embraer, to the air force for use in pilot training.
A second Embraer jet will be sold, and the proceeds given to the armed forces.
The government will keep the third aircraft, a US-made Gulfstream, but make it available to the air force when it is not used for state missions.
Greece is trying to avoid default and withdrawal from the eurozone by implementing an austerity programme in exchange for multi-billion-dollar loans from the EU and the International Monetary Fund.