Antenna News in English 250696

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From: Antenna Radio <http://www.antenna.gr> - email: antenna@compulink.gr

News in English, of 25/06/1996

TITLES

• PAPANDREOU
• PAPANDREOU BIOGRAPHY
• PASOK
• ND
• PAPANDREOU TRIBUTE

PAPANDREOU

Mr Papandreou, the former prime minister and founder of Pasok, will be buried in Athens on Wednesday.

He died of a heart attack in his home late Saturday night. He was 77 years old.

Greece mourns the loss of one of its most important 20th century politicians. As Angeliki Malatesta tells us, the news has reverberated around the world, and the messages of condolence have been pouring in.

Greece mourns the loss of Andreas Papanadreou.

"You'r alive, you guide us", chanted 100s of his supporters as his body was taken to Athens metropolitan cathedral Sunday.

His widow, Dimitra Liani Papandreou, his children, his former wife, Margaret, close associates, Greek leaders, and ordinary people all went to show their grief, and share the burden of their loss.

Mr Papandreou died of a heart attack at 2:30 am Sunday, just hours after dining with political associates.

His death comes after years of health problems.

Greek leaders across the political spectrum acknowledge that Andreas Papandreou has made a significant mark on the 20th century.

Perhaps his closest associate, Pasok MP Antonis Livanis, said that his death brings a political cycle to a close, a cycle of great leaders. "I hope that the young people of today have such leaders in the next century", he added.

Greek president Stefanopoulos said "Andreas Papandreou was a distinguished political leader, who for a long time had the leading role in the country's political life. He served our country well".

New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert called Andreas Papandreou a great political leader and praised him during his speech at his party's sixth national conference.

He said, "Andreas Papandreou has had a major impact on the political life of our country for at least the past 20 years. I would say he was responsible for making the political parties more democratic".

Evert then asked his party conference to hold a minute's silence in Andreas Papandreou's memory.

Former president Konstantinos Karamanlis called the Papandreou "a great political leader", whose leadership qualities were doubted by no one, not even those who disagreed with him politically.

Former premier Konstantinos Mitsotakis, who often locked political horns with Papandreou through the decades said Greece's political life will miss him, he was a great politician who played an important, often decisive role in events.

Political Spring leader Antonis Samaras spoke of ANdreas Papandreou's international radiance and his charisma.

And the leaders of the other parties acknowledged his importance and expressed their sorrow at his passing.

Around the world, the news of Papandreou's death was in the headlines. CNN interrupted its programme to announce the event, calling Papandreou a man who will be remembered by the Greek people.

US president Bill Clinton heard of the death of the former Greek prime minister with sorrow, calling him one of the most influential Grek politicians. Referring to Papandreou's struggle against Greece's military dictatorship between 1967 and 1974, the White House statement says Andreas Papandreou was a key factor in the triumph of democracy in the land where it was born. He had close ties with the US, where he lived for many years, and leaves a legacy of achievements that will continue to inspire the Greek people".

Greek Orthodox Archbishop of the Americas Iacovos held a memorial service at the Archangels Church in Connecticut, where Greeks in the US paid their last respects to Andreas Papandreou.

"Today", said Iacovos, the Greek people and we, the Orthodox Greeks of America, mourn the loss of a great politician.

We mourn because he was a charismatic leader with great abilities, principles, and ideas, which ushered in a new political age".

For Hellenism, the loss of such a leader gives cause for reflection and makes this, a time, for those who love Greece, to regroup.

In Florence, Turkish prime minister Mesout Yilmaz called Andreas Papandreou an important statesman, adding that he believes he wanted peace between Greece and Turkey. "I know this is a great loss for the Greek people", he said, "I want to express my condolences".

British primer minister John Major said "Andreas Papandreou was a charismatic leader who greatly contributed in the development of modern Greece. He will live in the memories of the people of his country and elsewhere".

The memories will live on, in the hearts of thousands who feel their world was enriched by Andreas Papandreou.

PASOK

His death means that the party will choose a new president at its congress, which begins Thursday. That congress was scheduled long ago, and the party's executive bureau decided it should go ahead as planned despite Andreas Papandreou's death.

Learning of Andreas Papandreou's death, prime minister Kostas Simitis returned from Florence, where he had gone for the European Union summit.

The question on Pasok minds is, "What now?". Calling his cabinet members together, Mr Simitis reminded them of their responsibilities.

He said "Andreas Papandreou was a politician of great horizons. He was aware of the fact that the party he created has come a long way, and will go a long way. It is our duty to him and the Greek people to make sure that Pasok continues on its way. We will all honour his memory, and preserve the unity of Pasok, and guarantee its future prospects".

The issue immediately before the party is choosing a new president. For months, supporters of Mr Simitis and interior minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos have been arguing why their man should be vice president, under Andreas Papandreou. Others have been debating whether or not the party needs a vice president.

The party congress was to choose one Thursday. Now, it will be choosing a president, probably either Mr simitis or Tsochatzopoulos, who will both claim the mantle.

Tsochatzopoulos did not make any statements. But Pasok secretary Kostas Skandalides said the goal of the congress is to preserve unity and maintain the party's ideological profile, the great strategies defined by Papandreou.

PAPANDREOU BIOGRAPHY

For over three decades he dominated Greek politics, rising to power as a champion of democracy, socialism, and Greek foreign policy independence.

Andreas Papandreou was born in Chios in 1919, but his family moved to Athens in 1921, and it was there that he went to school.

At the age of 17, he began his involvement in radical politics, starting a magazine with several schoolmates.

Completing high school, Andreas Papandreou entered Athens law school in 1937. He continued his political activities against the Metaxas dictatorship, and his father, Giorgos, already an established politician, was exiled.

In 1940, following a run-in with the police, Andreas Papandreou went to the United States with 14 dollars in his pocket.

In 1943, he received a doctorate in economics from Harvard University, and enlisted in the US navy the same year.

After the war, he taught at Harvard. He would later teach at the University of Minnesota and eventually head the economics department at UC Berkeley.

Papandreou's first marriage, to Christina Rassia, lasted 9 years. He married Margaret Chad in 1951. Together, they would have four children.

In 1961, Mr Papandreou returned to Greece to head an economic research centre.

Initially shunning politics, he soon joined his father's party, the Centre Union, was elected to parliament, and quickly became a central figure on the political stage. It was a stage he stayed on until his death.

Exiled during the military dictatorship, Mr Papandreou returned to Greece in 1974, and founded Pasok, the Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement. Seven years later, he was elected to power, promising to re-distribute the national wealth in favour of working people, and to promote Greece's foreign policy interests.

Pasok was re-elected in 1985, but Mr Papandreou's second government ran into trouble. Economic austerity angered many party supporters, and an embezzlement scandal at the Bank of Crete blew up.

In 1989, Mr Papandreou's health problems started, and he had open heart surgery in England.

Many people thought that was the end of his political career, but the words of his second wife, Dimitra Liani Papandreou, whom he married in 1989, proved prophetic. She said, "Andreas Papandreou is a political animal. He will never quit politics".

In 1993, having been acquited of all charges in the Bank of Crete scandal, Mr Papandreou was voted into office for the third time, completing a political comeback many had considered impossible because of his frail health.

He was hospitalised with pneumonia and kidney failure in November 1995. Still in the hospital in January, he resigned as prime minister.

His death just four days before Pasok's congress brought to an end months of speculation about what his political future would hold.

Andreas Papandreou is survived by his second wife Dimitra, and his four children, Georgos, Sofia Nikos, and Antrikos.

ND

New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert said he hopes Pasok stays strong as a party, because Greece needs two strong parties, not many small ones.

At the conference, Evert also called for an end to internal bickering. "There are no substantial differences between party members", he said. He added that the party's obligation is to go forward united to win the next national elections.

The conference ratified a motion confirming the unity of the party and underscoring its commitment to serve the people of Greece.

TURKEY

And the Turkish foreign minister was put on the spot over his country's questioning of the Greek island of Gavdos.

PAPANDREOU TRIBUTE

© ANT1-Radio 1996

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