"Public debt has been accrued on the government bailing out the banks, military expenditure and supporting shipowners and hotels.
The convention was shelved, however, when OECD countries, supported by most shipowners, ganged up on it.So imagine the dismay of FOC-wavers on hearing that John Breaux, a Democratic senator from Louisiana, had recently proposed a bill to revive the convention as a counter-terrorism measure.
Amid rumours of backing from wealthy shipowners, it has succeeded in opening party offices across Greece.
The pilots and their supporters say they are being vilified in a well-orchestrated campaign by shipowners.
And shipowners are up in arms.
"Shipowners give a lot to this country.
But many have abruptly stopped lending money to shipowners.
The law permits state inspectors to fine shipowners for violations.
But this kind of attitude infuriates the world's shipowners.
Many shipowners argue that such solutions are still prohibitively expensive.
