Antenna: News in English (PM), 98-07-16

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

Last Updated: Thursday, 16-Jul-98 22:24:59

CONTENTS

[01] Giakoumatos

[02] Archbishop Christodoulos

[03] Cyprus

[04] Grigoris Bithikotsis

[05] Transplants

[01] Giakoumatos

After his house was robbed, Giakoumatos accused public order minister Giorgos Romaios of being morally responsible.

Calling for Romaios to resign, Giakoumatos said the general public is not being protected from criminals.

The public order minister is, he condluded, incompetent.

Giakoumatos was robbed of fifty thousand dollars in cash and jewellery.

New Democracy feels its MP went to far in his heated attack on Romaios.

Giakoumatos apologised to New Democracy's parliamentary chief. Acknowledging that his behaviour had gone over the limit, he said he'd only wanted to sensitise the public order minister to the problem of criminality. But party leader Kostas Karamanlis decided to go ahead with the disciplinary council hearing, which will probably be held early next week.

New Democracy spokesman Aris Spilotopoulos says however human it is to fly off the handle when something adverse happens to us, that can't justify irresponsible language and behaviour.

Before Karamnanlis ordered Giakoumatos to the disciplinary committee, former prime minister Constantinos Mitsotakis had urged Karamanlis to quote "deal with the unacceptable behaviour of the MP".

[02] Archbishop Christodoulos

Archbishop Christodoulos visited a military post on the eastern Aegean island of Inousses.

The nation's soldiers and sailors are the ones who defend us he said as he chatted with troops stationed on the small island.

Earlier, Christodoulos was warmly welcomed by the island's residents.

Inousses has a proud tradition in producing shipping magnates and sailors.

During a visit to the naval museum, the archbishop paid homage to all those who've donated their fortunes to making their homeland a better place.

One man's surplus, he said, can be of much value to another man who doesn't have enough.

[03] Cyprus

A government bill declares the time between July 20th and August 20th, 1974 a period of war.

That means all those who took part in the defence of Cyprus are entitled to the pensions and military decorations accorded to soldiers and officers who've seen active duty in combat.

All Greeks who served in Cyprus during the invasions will be decorated.

[04] Grigoris Bithikotsis

His wife and children were smiling with relief Thursday after visiting the patient in the intensive care unit.

Gone was the look of concern as Bithikotsis's daughter Anna talked to reporters. "He's doing fine", she said. "The doctors are totally optimistic. They said he could've left the ICU today, but they decided to keep him in a day longer as a precaution".

Anna added that the most optimistic sign of all is her father's smile and tears of happiness.

Grigoris Bithikotsis said after seeing his father that he was in good spirits, and doing better than he'd expected.

[05] Transplants

A few hours later, the 19-year-old's heart was given to a 53-year-old woman with advanced heart disease.

Eleni Cholidou was doing fine after the operation.

Cholidou is the third person to receive a heart transplant at the hospital in a week.

Hospital director Kostas Kallergis says it shows the hospital is capable of performing transplants on a regular basis.

The 19-year-old's donor kidneys have been sent to hospitals in Thessaloniki and Athens; the liver has been sent to Barcelona; and the lungs are going to patients in Vienna.

(c) ANT1 Radio 1998

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