Antenna News in English 260696

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

News in English, of 26/06/1996

TITLES

• ANDREAS PAPANDREOU
• FUNERAL PREPS
• PASOK
• SIMITIS PARLIAMENT

ANDREAS PAPANDREOU

Andreas Papandreou's death Sunday closed a chapter in Greek history.

Andreas Papandreou's widow, Dimitra Liani Papandreou spent all night at the cathedral, grieving the loss of her husband, accepting the condolences of thousands of ordinary people.

She left the cathedral at 4 am Tuesday, only to return again at noon. At her side was one of Papandreou's closest associates: Giorgos Katifaras.

Andreas Papandreou's family will share the heaviest burden, the personal loss. But the nation mourns.

One old woman who came to say farewell said only, "He was Andreas Papandreou. And that's enough".

Another woman added, "He was a great political figure. I don't there will be ever be anyone like him".

Thousands of people who had invested their hopes and dreams in Andreas Papandreou and Pasok went to be close to the man who had touched their lives.

And not only Greeks. Many foreigners, who had known Andreas Papandreou from his participation in peace and liberation movements, came to pay tribute to a great political leader.

One man said, "On behalf of the Pan-African Association, of the association of Africans living in Greece, I would like to express deep sorrow to the greek people at the loss of Andreas Papandreou. May his memory be eternal".

Another man added "We've lost a charismatic leader. I hope there will be someone like him in the future".

A group of people came from Andreas Papandreou's village of Kalentzi in the Peloponese. They were wimple people who had loved and admired their famous fellow villager.

The village mayor said "We brought some soil from Kalentzi to symbolise the bonds linking the Papandreou family to the place. We planted a fir tree in it. That symbolises the vision of Andreas Papandreou, which we are sure will come to fruition".

Among the better-known people who came to the cathedral were the members of Greece's national basketball team.

But whether they were famous or not, everyone who came had their own store of memories of Andreas Papandareou, memories they will keep alive.

Many of those who paid tribute to Andreas Papandreou at the cathedral put their thoughts and feelings on paper. A condolences book has been started in the prime minister's office in parliament.

Dozens of ambassadors, diplomats and politicians made entries.

Prime minister Kostas Simitis, who succeeded Andreas Papandreou as premier, was the first to make an entry in the book.

He writes in memory of the "leader who lost the only fight he couldn't win, the fight against death. Andreas will live on in the work he left behind. It is our obligation to guarantee the continuity and future prospects of that work".

Dozens of ambassadors, diplomats, MPs, former MPs and ordinary people came to parliament to write down their thoughts.

US ambassador Thomas Niles wrote "Andreas Papandreou : one of the greatest figures of international life in the last 30 years".

Russian ambassador Valery Nikolaenko noted "I express our deep condolences at the death of the distinguished stateman and friend of Russia, Andreas Papandreou".

One person wrote, "Captain, have a good trip". Someone else penned, "We thank you for the beautiful dreams you gave us".

Still another person wrote, "Have a good trip Andreas. I hope your death will unify us".

FUNERAL PREPS

Tight security measures will be in place, as dignitaries from all over the world will be attending.

Archbishop of Greece Serafeim will say Andreas Papandreou's memorial service at Athens metropolitan cathedral at 2:30 Wednesday afternoon. Around 350 people will attend the service: family members, government officials, MPs, and a number of foreign dignitaries.

Among the foreign leaders attending will be Cypriot president Glavcos Clirides, former spanish premier Felipe Gonzalez, and the prime ministers of Holland, Bulgaria, Slovenia.

The United States will be represented by treasury secretary Robert Ruben, and Germany is sending foreign minister Klaus Kinkel. The foreign ministers of Turkey and Iran will also be there, as will the vice president of India.

With so many dignitaries gathered in one place, security will be tight.

Four thousand police officers will patrol the area around the cathedral. At the end of the service, there will be funeral orations for two hours. And at five in the afternoon the body of Andreas Papandreou will be taken to the cemetery.

The funeral procession will stop before parliament for one minute, and a twenty-one gun salute will be fired from nearby Lycavytos Hill. Eight Greek air force jets will fly over Athens, and an armed forces battalion will pay tribute to the accompaniment of the navy band.

Wednesday will be an official day of mourning: all public services, banks and the stock exchange will remain closed. The private sector general workers' union has announced a work stoppage from 1 pm on.

It will be the day when everyone stops to think about Andreas Papandreou, and what he meant to Greece.

PASOK

Though sidelined by illness for half a year before he passed away, Andreas Papandreou remained for most of Pasok's leading members the guarantor of party unity.

Now, the party will have to go on without him. This Thursday, the party congress will choose a new party president.

The contest is certain to come down to two men, Kostas Simitis and Akis Tsochatzopoulos. What is uncertain, is whether the victor will be able to hold the party together.

Until Sunday, delegates to Pasok's congress thought they would be choosing a vice president for the party.

Instead, they'll be choosing a president.

The two main contenders for the mantle are prime minister Kostas Simitis and interior minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos.

Both have made proposals concerning what should happen at the congress.

The Simitis camp takes it as a given that the prime minister will try to becom party leader. It believes that a secretariat should be set up to give a collective flavour to the party leadership - with Mr Simitis as party leader.

Mr Simitis is opposed to a vice president being chosen.

That could be an attempt to offset the argument from the Tsochatzopoulos camp, that someone other than the prime minister should be party president - again, to ensure collective leadership.

Tsochatzopoulos supporters say Andreas Papandreou's successor can only be a leadership group, not one person. It wants the party to make it a working principle that the prime minister and the party leader must be different people. And the party leader now, should be Tsochatzopoulos. His supporters are also thinking of proposing that up to three party vice presidnets be appointed, and a political council be established.

Defence minister Gerasimos Arsenis, who finished behind Simitis and Tsochatzopoulos when parliament chose someone to replace Andreas Papandreou as prime minister, also figures into the equation. He supports the Tsochatzopoulos call for a political council. Arenis supporters, though, are not all in Tsochatzopoulos's corner.

Party secretary Kostas Skandalides is trying to come up with a compromise that'll please everyone. He suggests that three vice presidents be chosen, one of whom will be the man who loses the race for party president.

Parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis proposes that the people at the top of the party work out agreement, and submit it to the congress for ratification.

But that is unlikely to happen given the divisions in the ranks.

MP Ioannis Diamantides says the proposal that the premier and party leader be different people is unworkable. "If Mr Simitis is made president", he asks rhetorically, "does that mean he'll have to resign as prime minister? That proposal hides a trap".

But MP Dimosthenes Dimosthenopoulos disagrees. He thinks the proposal could preserve party unity.

Pasok's executive bureau will discuss all the proposals Wednesday, after Andreas Papandreou's funeral.

SIMITIS PARLIAMENT

Addressing Pasok's parliamentary group, Mr Simitis called Andreas Papandreou one of those great leaders who stands above everyone else, and who is especially loved by the people. They have, he added, a special place in history.

Mr Simitis said, "He gave substance to the progressive movement in Greece. Pasok has guaranteed stability and broadened democracy.

Andreas Papandareou inspired Pasok, and changed the shape of Greek society. He and Pasok occupy a central place in Greek history. We are proud of what we have achieved".

© ANT1-Radio 1996

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