Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-12-28

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] PM Papandreou visits Attiko Hospital

[02] Greek military rejects Turkish airspace violation complaint

[03] Author Galateia Sarante passes away

[01] PM Papandreou visits Attiko Hospital

"As we had pledged ourselves, social welfare and health are a priority for us, and we are handing over 77 ICUs to the hospitals with the aim of upgrading the public health sector," said Papandreou, who was accompanied by the leadership of the health and social solidarity ministry.

The prime minister reiterated that roughly 1,000 doctors and 3,000 nurses will be appointed underlining that the public health sector will meet higher standards and become more accessible for the people.

Caption: Prime Minister George Papandreou (right) shakes hands with a patient in a wheelchair at Attiko Hospital during a visit on Monday. ANA-MPA - Alexandros Beltes

[02] Greek military rejects Turkish airspace violation complaint

The aircraft took off from Rhodes at 12:35 and was notified by Turkish radar at 12:38 that it was violating Turkish air space.

At 12:40, the Eskisehir air base in Turkey activated the telephone "hotline" link with the Larissa command centre in Greece to report the incident.

The Greek side pointed out that the "hotline" was activated only when there was a danger of an accident and dismissed the Turkish claim, underlining the provisions of international law.

[03] Author Galateia Sarante passes away

She was born in the port city of Patras in 1920, graduated in law from Athens university and published her first short story entitled "To Kastro" (The Castle) in the magazine "Nea Estia" in 1945.

Sarante went on to become a prize-winning author with her novel "The Return", which received the "Prize of Twelve" award in 1953. Two more of her books also won prizes, "To Palio Mas Spiti" (Our Old House) in 1969 that won the 2nd state award for a novel and "Na Thymasai ti Vilna" (Remember Vilna) that won the 1st state literature prize for a short story in 1979.

She also won the Athens Academy's Ouranis Prize in 1979 for her novel "Rogmes" (Cracks).

In addition to her work as an author, Sarante worked with state radio, appearing in programmes on literature, and several literary magazines.

She was married to the lawyer Stavros Patsouris, with whom she had two children.

Her funeral will be held at noon on Wednesday at the Athens 1st cemetery.

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