Antenna News in English 270696

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

News in English, of 27/06/1996

TITLES

• FUNERAL
• FUNERAL ORATIONS
• PROCESSION/PEOPLE
• MUSICAL TRIBUTE

FUNERAL

His widow Dimitra Papandreou, his four children and his former wife Margaret Papandreou bade their farewells, taking a final look at the face of the man they had loved and admired.

Thousands of other people crowded into the cemetery. They, too, had come to say goodbye. Dimitra Papandreou was heard to say in anguish, "Why are you leaving me alone?"

Her grief is personal, but many of those who placed their hopes in Andreas Papandreou over the years feel that they, and Greece, have lost someone irreplaceable.

FUNERAL ORATIONS

At 2:30 in the afternoon, archbishop Serafim held the memorial service. Then, for two hours, people from all over the world delivered orations, reflecting on Andreas Papandreou's life and work.

Greece bade farewell to Andreas Papandreou. An estimated 200 thousand people visited Athens metropolitan cathedral as he lay there in state for three days.

There were ordinary people who had believed in his political leadership. There were foreign diplomats who recognised his political achievements. There were Greek politicians. There were friends and political associates - people who had followed Andreas Papandreou up close throughout his career, or been a part of Pasok, the party he founded. And there were family members.

Tens of thousands of people followed the memorial service Wednesday, and heard numerous speakers praise Andreas Papandreou.

Prime minister Kostas Simitis said, "Greece mourns the loss of a great leader. Pasok misses its founder, its creator. He was a fighter, a man of vision, uncompromising, realistic, and unpredictable. The legacy he leaves us is his passion for life, thirst for new ideas, courage, social sensitivity, faith in politics that has man as its focus. Pasok has lost its leader, but not its soul. We will give his work continuity, for us, that is a life duty. We will remember him always".

Parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis said, "I bow before the patriot who forged our national independence....my companion, my friend, my brother. The tears of an entire nation speak better on this day. He was a true popular leader. Andreas Papandreou, you were beautiful as a Greek, but you weren't only a national figure. Your struggles made you the idol of the oppressed. Have a nice trip captain".

Pasok secretary Kostas Skandalides told the late Andreas Papandreou: "I know what you're expecting from us, who in losing you see the world being torn apart. Go forward altogether, you told me, for the good of our country....Farewell my great companion and friend. Give a kiss to Melina, Giorgos, and Yiannis for me".

The last words were a reference to the late Melina Mercouri, and the late Pasok members Giorgos Yennimatas and Yiannis Alevras.

Pierre Maurois, president of the socialist international spoke next. He called Andreas Papandreou a "tireless fighter, who gave the Greek people a new destiny".

Interior minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, one of Andreas Papandreou's closest associates, said "We are all here, by your coffin, on which all of Greece leans. Our invaluable friend, our brother, our leader. Everyone's here, at your appointment with history. Andreas Papandreou made Greece the property of all Greeks. He believed in man and his power. He lent sense and value to the principles of socialism.

Above all, he inspired. He guided the people, communicating with them....All of us in Pasok, feel the weight of our duty to work together, united, and to plan a new course on his legacy. We shall keep the sun of Pasok, your sun, hight".

Not only those close to Andreas Papandreou politically paid their respects to him.

New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert said "We, Ipersonally, who consistently disagreed with your choices, we recognise the dimensions of your political presence. Andreas Papandreou's loss leaves an irreplaceable gap, in the party he founded and kept united. Today, Pasok is being called upon to emancipate itself. Today, we honour you. Your political students cry for you. Andreas Papandreou, whatever good you left behind you, we will keep and honour".

Political Spring leader Antonis Samaras said "Andreas Papandreou wasn't afraid of rupture. In politics, there are those who create power, after having doubted it. Andreas Papandreou belonged to that category of politicians....Those who leave behind them great ideas and works, don't die. They leave their friends' and critics' memories...".

Communist party leader Aleka Papariga said "We followed different roads and choices, but always with political arguments".

Left coalition leader Nikos Konstantopoulos said "Andreas Papandreou is now at the judgement of history. The fight for life has ended for him, but life won't stop concerning itself with him".

The final speech came from Andreas Papandreou's son, education minister Georgos Papandreou. At times choked by emotion, he spoke of the people who had been closest to his father personally. Of his second wife, Margaret Papandreou: "My father had a partner who stood beside him for many years. A woman who bore him four children and four grand-children and shared his burden. We know that he loved her very much and that she loved him".

Georgos Papandreou spoke of his father's third wife, Dimitra Papandreou: "Another woman stood beside him with courage, in difficult times, during the last years of his life".

And he continued: "This man learned something from his father Giorgos about the great journey to Ithaki. He then taught us, his own children about his own quests, his own Ithakis, so that we can continue the proud journey. Father, you departed from this world a fighter, upright, courageous, difnified. You didn't leave quietly, in the deep darkness of the night. You left to the sound of thousands of voices. You'll live on in our hearts, you unite us, you inspire us. You were a revolutionary. We will continue the journey to Ithaki. We love you, all of us gathered here, we love you, all of us who have been orphaned...goodbye father".

PROCESSION/PEOPLE

Wednesday, there was again a big crowd, again, there was great passion. But this time, the passion was the grief that accompanies the last farewell.

Thousands of people lined the streets followed by the funeral procession Wednesday afternoon. Under the blistering sun, the throngs at times burst forth in cries of love and undying respect for Andreas Papandreou.

When his coffin appeared at the gates of the cathedral, someone shouted: "You're immortal, you guide us". A voice of passion drowning out the navyband.

Tear-lined streets accompanied Andreas Papandreou to his final resting place, as always, by his side.

As the prosession moved on its sombre way, a mass of people followed In many hands, a flower, and a picture of Andreas Papandreou. At one point, the crowd burst into a chant: "Andreas, you live and guide us".

Ordinary people spoke their hearts. Myriad voices: "He was everything to me". "I miss him". "I love him. Not in the romantic sense... I just love him".

The procession stopped in front of the parliament. Andreas Papandreou, the man who fought for democracy, stopped one last time before the house of democracy. A twenty-one gun salute issued from nearby Lycavittos Hill.

Four jets flew overhead.

Then, everyone moved on. For several hours after the earth had covered Andreas Papandreou, they inched their way through the cemetery, to his grave, and laid their flowers beside him.

Their gift to the man who was, for them, the blossom of Greece, the man who helped Greece blossom.

MUSICAL TRIBUTE

We bid farewell to Andreas Papandreou with this musical tribute.

© ANT1-Radio 1996

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