BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN (02/01/1996)

From: Macedonian Press Agency <[email protected]>

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

Thessaloniki, January 2 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[01] POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS CONTINUE IN ATHENS

This evening session of the presidium of the parliamentary group of PASOK opens the political developments expected in January after the six-week stay of the greek Prime Minister mr Andreas Papandreou in the Onassion Cardioology Centre of Athens, one of the best equipped in Europe.

Tomorrow the 19-member executive bureau of the central committee of the governing socialistic party will discuss political developments and especially the condition of mr Papandreou's health on which a delegation of the bureau were briefed by the minister of health and personal doctor of prime minister's since 1988 mr Dimitris Kremastinos.

Mr Kremastinos, who was criticised for some of his choices concerning mr Papandreou's health as well as for having taken advantage of his post so that he was elected as a university professor, was fully covered by the government.

These accusations provoked the resignation of the vice president of the Onassion Cardiology Centre professor Grigoris Scalkeas who was accused of having been appointed as vice president of the Centre in return for the help he provided to mr Kremastinos's election in the university.

The president of the main opposition party of New Democracy mr Miltiades Evert in a letter he sent to the medical board observing mr Papandreou since he was admitted in hospital on November 20th, asked that he be briefed in detail about mr Papandreou's condition.

Today the President of the Republic mr Constantinos Stephanopoulos received the minister of the state mr Antonios Livanis who is considered as the closest associate of the prime minister's, while in the week he will he will receive the speaker of the parliament mr Apostolos Kaklamanis, the minister of interior affairs, public administration and decentralization mr Akis Tsohadjopoulos, who as the first in order minister substitutes the prime minister and mr Miltiades Evert.

Mr Evert, who has described the political situation of the country as "anomaly", has not excluded the eventuality that he submits a petition for a vote of confidence in the parliament where PASOK holds 170 seats in the 300-seat greek parliament, Andreas Papandreou iclusive.

Underminister of Environment, Public Works and Planning ms Elizabeth Papazoi has asked for an immediate meeting of PASOK's parliament members.

In a letter addresssed to the body's secretary, Mr. Dimitris Beis, ms. Papazoi states that it is imperative to discuss as soon as possible the political issue that has arisen due to the prime minister's extended stay in the hospital.

"The Prime Minister's replacement or departure would cause diversion and anomaly which could have unpleasant results not only for PASOK but for the whole country," stated Minister of Press and Media mr. T. Hytiris adding that "today there is stability both in the political and economical sectors of the country, a stability that we need to protect."

Regarding Mr. Evert's statement that "there is political anomaly", Mr. Hytiris said that he does not know where Mr. Evert is basing his arguments.

The most important political procedure, already announced is the two-day session of the 150-member central committee of PASOK on January 20th.All MPs who are not members of the body will be called to speak but they will not have the right to vote, precondition which has created objections, since it will be the MPs who will elect the new prime minister, if needed so.

PASOK was founded by mr Papandreou in 1974 after the fall of the military dictatorship and has won up-to-now with absolute majorities three out of the eight elections since then.

[02] THE GREEK PRIME MINISTER'S CONDITION IS STABLE

The condition of the greek Prime Minister mr Andreas Papandreou's health remained stable in the past 24 hours according to the latest medical bulletin that was issued at 2:30pm today by the medical board observing him since he was admitted in the Onassion Cardiology Center, of Athens, on November 20th.

The medical bulletin mentions that the patient's respiratory function is periodically supported by respirator while the results of kidney and skin biopsies are being completed and will be announced tomorrow.

According to the attendant doctors, the lab indications are positive as the white blood cells count and blood pressure and the level of sugar in the blood remained stable in the past 48 hours.

Even though the kidney biopsy gave no clear results yet, it does not leave a lot of room for recovery of the renal function but at the same time it does not rule out the hope that the function of the kidneys will gradually resume in the next 10 days. This is based on the fact that inspite of some dead spots being located in the kidneys there are still several healthy cells in those organs.

The doctors continue to study with special attention the skin biopsy results that was carried out in order to be established if there is a hardening of certain surface vessels or other illnesses related to the immune system that are responsible for the syndrome that aggravates the overall condition of the Prime Minister's health.

Mr Papandreou, born in February 1919, has governned the country for more than ten in the last fifteen years.In 1988 he was submitted to an open heart operation in the London Hospital of Heartfiled, executed by the famous egyptian surgeon dr magdi Yacub.

A year later he married ms Demetra Liani who is also acting as the director of his personal bureau.

From a previous marriage he has 4 children one of whom is the minister of Education mr Giorgos Papandreou.

[03] TURKS FAVORABLE AS GREEK PRESIDENT VISITS XANTHI

With exceptionally favorable comments the turkish press reported Greek President Kostis Stefanopoulos' visit to the greek mountainous villages near Rodopi and Xanthi, inhabited by Pomaks.

The turkish newspaper Zaman, wrote that "this is the first time any president of the Greek Democracy has visited muslim villages."

The article also describes the warm welcome the village inhabitants afforded mr. Stefanopoulos and states that the "Pomaks view quite positively the new strategy of the greek government, which already has resulted in the creation of four new schools.

[04] MEETING BETWEEN STATE HEADS TO BE HELD THURSDAY

[05] SEVERE WEATHER CLOSES OUT 35 VILLAGES

Thirty-five villages in Thrace have been cut off due to severe snow falling, despite today's weather improvement. Mostly in the mountainous areas of Xanthi, Evros, Rodopi and Drama, the villages have not reported subsistance problems and area authorities have begun removing the snow from the roads.

[06] EE INTENTIONS FAVORED BY CYPRUS

The cypriot government has expressed its satisfaction at the European Union's intention to become more actively involved in the finding of a solution to the cypriot issue, according to a government spokesperson.

Mr. Kasoulides said that "developments are excected in 1996 as a result of the European Union's involvement and of the interest expressed by the Security Council members."

[07] TURKEY HAS DIFFICULTIES IN REACTING TO A EU INTERVENTION IN CYPRUS

Turkey will have now greater difficulties in reacting to European Union interventions in the Cyprus problem stated cypriot government spokesman Yiannakis Kasoulidis who explained that Ankara's difficulties stem from the implementation of the agreement on Turkey's customs union with the EU.

The cypriot government spokesman said that the first step for a more active EU involvement in Cyprus will be the visit to the country on January 4-6 by the italian Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs that will take place in the framework of Italy's EU rotating Presidency.

The italian Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs will also visit Athens and Ankara.

[08] EFFORTS FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM WILL GIVE RESULTS

The efforts for the solution of the Cyprus problem will give results due to US special envoy mr.Halbrook's interference. This view was expressed by US State Department special coordinator in Cyprus, Jim Williams.

In statements made in New York he said that every time mr.Halbrook is involved the results are always positive adding that this was proven by his activities as Assistant Undersecretary of State.

Nevertheless, mr.Williams stressed that there are difficult problems faced by all sides and excessive optimism should be avoided.

To the question on the European Union involvement mr.Williams responded by mentioning the important decision of March the 6th based on which the talks for Cyprus' EU membership will start 6 months after the Inter- Governmental Conference.

[09] PROTEST BY PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATION OF US-CANADA AGAINST US

Written protest against the US position on the Skopjan issue was delivered by a delegation of the Pan- Macedonian Association US-Canada to US Senator and Democratc Party Chairman Christopher Dodd. The protest letter was accompanied by a copy of the Association's resolution that was issued within the framework of the Council of Overseas Hellenism and was signed by over 3.000 people.

In the letter is stressed among others that the greek-american community has been disappointed by the "neutral" position adopted by the United States and at the same time is expressed protest against the support toward the skopjan side. The Pan-Macedonian Association also expresses concern that in case Skopje is recognized under any derivative of the word "Macedonia" this will constitute a factor of instability in the region.

According to Pan-Macedonian Association's new action plan, efforts are being made aiming at a meeting of a joint delegation made up of representatives from the Pan- Macedonian Association US-Canada, the Council of Overseas Hellenism and National Council with the US President, the US Secretary of State and mediators Halbrook of the US and Vance of the UN.

US Senator Dodd supports the greek positions on the relations with FYROM and has expressed his opposition to the stand adopted by the Bush and Clinton administrations.