A.N.A. Bulletin, 27/12/95

From: "Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada" <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>

Athens News Agency Directory

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 773), December 27, 1995

Greek Press & Information Office

Ottawa, Canada

E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca

CONTENTS

[1] Papandreou condition stable, transferred to special room

Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou was transferred to a specially equipped and sterilized sixth-floor room at the Onassion Hospital yesterday evening from the facility's first-floor intensive care unit.

Doctors treating the 76-year-old premier cited psychological reasons and an effort to lessen the threat of infection for proceeding with the transfer.

Mr. Papandreou has been plagued by five infections since his more than month-long treatment at the hospital.

The sixth-floor room can accommodate all necessary medical equipment for monitoring the premier's health, doctors said.

According to an evening medical bulletin, Mr. Papandreou's condition continued to be described as stabilized. He was reported brea-thing without the help of a respirator, while a kidney dialysis was successfully performed.

Mr. Papandreou's new hospital room contains a special atmospheric pressure system that reduces germs from the environment.

Doctors believe the transfer will reduce the chances of a new infection occurring. Necessary medical equipment needed to monitor the prime minister's condition as well as life support machines such as the respirator and kidney dialysis unit are contained in the room. The respirator will support his breathing during the night as a "preventative" measure, physicians treating the premier said.

The medical team's goal is to repair the effects of back-to-back infections and strengthen Mr. Papandreou's immune system, so that it can fight off any future infections.

Mr. Papandreou is continuing to receive sustenance mainly through an intestinal tube, while eating a small amount.

According to doctors, he is beginning to gain strength and weight, which is necessary for a recuperation. In addition, Mr. Papandreou underwent an intensive physical therapy session yesterday morning, before undergoing a kidney dialysis later in the afternoon. Attending physicians have decided to schedule further kidney dialyses for once every 48 hours.

A midday medical bulletin stated that Mr. Papandreou's health remained stable.

"No substantial changes have occurred during the last 24 hours and the same treatment is being applied," the bulletin read.

An Onassion Hospital bulletin issued Monday night said there had been indications that the premier's health was improving and that the latest infection he had suffered was under control.

The bulletin added that the premier's breathing was not supported by a respirator and that he had not undergone kidney dialysis on Monday.

Mr. Papandreou was rushed to the Onassion Cardiology Centre more than a month ago with pneumonia. During that time he was permanently treated in the hospital's intensive care unit, fighting infections and renal insufficiency.

[2] Gov't scoffs at ND motion of censure threat

The possibility of main opposition New Democracy lodging a motion of censure had no effect on the ruling PASOK government, judging from statements by Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos and Transport Minister Evangelos Venizelos.

Both Mr. Tsohatzopoulos, who is deputizing for ailing Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, and Mr. Venizelos mocked the idea.

"Whoever dares to lodge a motion of censure against the government of Andreas Papandreou can do so," Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said.

Mr. Venizelos called the proposal of a censure motion a "Christmas gift," adding he would be grateful if ND leader Miltiades Evert undertook such an initiative.

Referring to statements by several PASOK members requesting an acceleration of replacement procedures for the prime minister, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said "the only thing the people are not preoccupied with are whatever internal processes in PASOK. Those referring to them should not feel concerned. The relevant institutional entities within PASOK, when and if necessary, have all the prestige and responsibility to take decisions."

Mr. Venizelos said there was no legal problem, adding that "in voting for the budget as well, PASOK showed it can overcome all problems."

Commenting on a meeting between PASOK members Gerassimos Arsenis and Costas Simitis, Mr. Venizelos said many (party members) lost their patience easily and that "more courage is necessary."

Replying to press questions concerning an interview by former Justice Minister Dimitris Kouvelakis on Saturday, referring to the need to speed up processes in PASOK, Mr. Venizelos said "I saw no legal argument."

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos and Mr. Venizelos spoke to reporters during their visit to Thessaloniki's main market with Commerce Minister Nikos Akritidis, which is located in a district where all three stood for election.

In another development, 30 PASOK deputies delivered a manifesto on the party's unity and prospects to PASOK secretary Costas Skandalidis and Parliamentary Group Secretary Dimitris Beis on Saturday.

Referring to the contribution and role played by Andreas Papandreou, terming him one of the greatest statesmen in modern Greek history, they said they stood with respect before the struggle he was giving for life.

They also stated they were undertaking their initiative apart from their differences in assessing persons and choices to express their joint decision to contribute decisively toward a safeguarding of PASOK's unity, prospects and evolution.

They spoke of a commitment of moral and political solidarity, adding that the course for the future should be characterized by collectiveness, decentralization of powers, representativeness and merit. They said they were determined to make every effort to this end.

The deputies said the central committee should be convened before the Parliamentary Group to define the terms and preconditions for a unifying and victorious course to the future and set out a course toward the conference.

The group of 30 deputies said that when the time came, the Parliamentary Group should select the new prime minister, free of ulterior motives, expediencies and circumstantial assessments.

Lastly, they said they considered it reasonable that all those aspiring to play a leading role at present would commit themselves in accepting the result, but pointed out that such a principle should be considered self-evident.

Meanwhile, former minister Costas Simitis vehemently denied a report in a Sunday newspaper claiming he had contacted independent MP Mihalis Papaconstantinou.

Mr. Simitis expressed regret for what he called "dirty games" which have started. He categorically denied the report, adding that PASOK had no need for others but only of honorable processes.

Mr. Papaconstantinou also denied the report.

[3] Agreement on Nestos, border openings welcomed

An agreement reached last week between Greece and Bulgaria on Nestos River water rights and the opening of a Nevrokopi, Dramas customs border post was welcomed by local government agencies, business leaders an d local citizens in Drama, Kavala and Serres prefectures.

The reopening of the border customs office is expected to directly lead to an upgrade and increased development of mountainous regions in Drama prefecture as well as of other nearby prefectures, according to Drama Prefect Socrates Dimitriadis, Drama May or Margaritis Tzimas, Nevrokopi Regional Governor Yiannis Xanthopoulos and other local officials.

Former under-secretary and PASOK deputy for Drama Floros Konstantinou said "in implementing commitments it has assumed for people in the area, the government is contributing to a more appropriate development of the border region and is providing the possibility for Drama to be turned into a location of co-operation among Balkan peoples and a centre of association, economic activity and culture for neighboring peoples."

Customs border offices in Ehinos, Xanthi and Ormenios, Evros, which lie on routes from the Balkan Peninsula's interior to the ports of Kavala and Alexandroupolis, are also ready to operate, according to reports.

A large portion of Bulgaria's sea trade is expected to pass through these two ports, as well as trade from other Balkan countries and former Soviet republics.

[4] Kavala highway bypass contract awarded

The Mechaniki construction company has been selected to build a section of the Kavala bypass motorway.

The 4.5km-long project is expected to cost 6.3 billion drachmas, while its completion deadline is 28 months.

Ratification of the auctioning process will take place in January and implementation of the contract will begin afterwards.

The specific sector will include construction of a 22.5-meters-wide motorway, a twin tunnel some 240 meters long, a bridge with a 90-meter span and an overpass toward the Palio Kavala community.

[5] President to visit Xanthi

President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos departs for the northeastern city of Xanthi tomorrow.

President Stephanopoulos will visit the IV Army Corps headquarters, the "Glafki" and "Fantaros" checkpoints as well as the villages of Pahni and Organi.

He will be accompanied by the IV Army Corps commander Lieutenant-General Paragoudakis.

[6] Varvitsiotis, Pol.An comment on Turkish elections

Main opposition New Democracy Vice-President Ioannis Varvitsiotis yesterday said results in Turkey's general elections signaled a new phase in Greek-Turkish relations.

The Islamist Welfare Party (RP) with 21.32 per cent of the vote gained first place in the neighboring country's general elections, which were held last Sunday. Outgoing Prime Minister Tansu Ciller's rightist True Path Party (DYP) garnered 19.20 per cent, while her rival centre-right Motherland Party (ANAP) gained 19.66 per cent to place second.

"According to all indications, the new Turkish government will have a strong nationalistic nature, and will toughen its policy toward Greece due to the Islamists' strengthening," Mr. Varvitsiotis said.

"While all these things are happening in Turkey, in Greece there is a political vacuum due to the lack of a prime minister and the absence of government," Mr. Varvitsiotis said, referring to Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou's more than month-long illness.

Political Spring (Pol.An) party spokesman Notis Martakis said the "west should revise its policy toward Turkey and realize, at last, that the only factor of stability in the sensitive Balkan region is Greece."

In addition, Mr. Martakis said that "despite Europe and America's cajoling, election results in Turkey were not what the west expected.

"The rise of radical Islam in the neighboring country gives way to skepticism and concern as it promotes Ankara's true extremist intentions, which have no relation at all with the idea of a united Europe," he added.

[7] One LOTTO ticket pays out more than 1.1 billion drachmas

An anonymous lottery player received an unprecedented Christmas gift yesterday by winning more than 1.1 billion drachmas in the state-run LOTTO, as just one lucky ticket matched all six correct numbers.

The ticket was played at a Piraeus wagering parlor. The winner will receive 1,124,747,290.

LOTTO officials said 618 tickets matched five numbers, paying 594,740 drachmas each, while 45,805 tickets with four numbers each earned 6,565 drachmas.

In addition, a jackpot occurred in the first category of the PROTO lottery after the number 1167505 was drawn.

Six winners were found in the second category, each winning 5,311,170 drachmas.

[8] AHEPA to present its highest award to Clinton

The American Hellenic Educational and Progressive Association (AHEPA) will honor US President Bill Clinton on Feb. 21 during its bi-annual 32nd dinner for Congress.

In addition, US Sen. Olympia Snowe, a Maine Republican of Greek descent; House of Representatives Foreign Relations Committee President Ben Gilman and Archbishop of North and South America Iakovos will also be honored.

President Clinton will receive the "Socrates Award," the highest decoration given by the Greek-American community, while Ms. Snowe and Mr. Gilman will receive the "Pericles Award" for their contribution to public life. AHEPA will bestow on Iakovos the inaugural "Archbishop Iakovos Humanitarian Award."

The event will be attended by former Massachusetts Governor and Democratic presidential candidate in 1988 Michael Doukakis as well as US Sen. Paul Sarbanes, a Maryland Democrat.

End of English language section.