[01] GREEK PRIME MINISTER'S HEALTH REMAINS STABLE

[02] GREEK PREPARATIONS FOR THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL IN MADRID

[03] DISCUSSIONS OVER PAPANDREOU'S SUCCESSION CONTINUE IN PASOK

[04] CYPRUS AND RUSSIA HAVE COMMON TARGETS FOR CYPRUS PROBLEM

[05] ARCHBISHOP OF ALBANIA PROFESSOR EMERITUS IN THEOLOGY SCHOOL

[07] MAYORS OF CITIES ALEXANDER THE GREAT PASSED TO BE HELD IN 1997

[08] GREECE AND CYPRUS MADE AGREEMENT ON PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT

[09] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH ON AN FORMAL VISIT TO SWITZERLAND

[01] GREEK PRIME MINISTER'S HEALTH REMAINS STABLE

Greek Prime Minister mr Andreas Papandreou developed a high body temperature during the dialysis treatment he was submitted to this morning.

In a bulletin issued by the board of doctors observing mr Papandreou since he was admitted in the Onassion Cardiology Centre, one of the best equipped in Europe, on November 20th, said that the fever which reached the 39 degrees was due to an infection which the can not locate yet.

The bulletin announced that mr Papandreou who has been given an antibiotics treatment but with little effect since temperature only fell to 38.5 degrees, is again breathing under the support of a respirator which has been removed fifty hours ago, bringing optimism for his final recovery.

According to the bulletin, the functioning of his kidneys is still supported by an artificial kideny function while it is stressed that the functioning of his heart remains unchanged.

The second bulletin created uneasiness to the members of the government since earlier today in the first bulletin of the day, it was announced that the general condition of the greek Prime Minister's health remains the same.

That bulletin had mentioned that for the past two days the patient had been breathing without the help of a respirator while it had stressed that the renal functioning continued to be supported by an artificial kidney and the functioning of his heart remains unchanged.

Mr. Papandreou's attendant doctors had stated this morning that the Prime Minister woke up in high spirits and he had undergone dialysis treatment.

The doctors also revealed that the night before had been quiet for mr Papandreou who was only periodically assisted in breathing with an oxyzen mask.

Greek Press and Media Minister mr Tilemahos Hitiris had repeated his estimation that it is possible that mr Papandreou exits hospital within the next twenty days.

Mr Hitiris declined to comment on the information that MPs of the governmental socialistic PASOK are collecting signatures so that the parliamentary group of the party be convoked and its members are briefed formally on mr Papandreou's health by the Minister of Health professor Dimitris Krematsinos who has been mr Papandreou's personal doctor since 1988.

In 1988 mr Papandreou was submitted to an open heart operation by the famous egyptian surgeon dr Magdi Yacub in the London Hospital of Heartfiled.

Mr Papandreou, 77 next February, is married to ms Demetra Liani who has been acting as the director of his personal bureau since he won the 1993 general elections.

From a previous marriage he has four children one of whom is the minister of Education mr Giorgos Papandreou.

[02] GREEK PREPARATIONS FOR THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL IN MADRID

A meeting chaired by the Alternate Foreign Minister, mr. Giorgos Romeos was held today in Athens in the framework of the preparations for the summit of the European Union, due in Madrid next weekend.

Participants in the meeting discussed issues mainly concerning the Inter-governmental Conference, the enlargement of the Union and also the prospects opened based on the Kohl-Chiraque Letter on the eventuality of a multi-speed development in the member states of the european union.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry has completed the file concerning the greek affairs that will be discussed tomorrow in the Governmental Committee chaired by mr. Akis Tsohadjopoulos, who will head the greek deligation in the summit.

Mr Akis Tsohadjopoulos is holding the portfolio of Interior Affairs, Public Administration and Decentralization who according to the law of government is the first in order minister and is replacing the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile some MPs brought again the issue of a possible replacement of mr Papandreou's while professor of the constitutional law mr Dimitris Tsatsos, an elected deputy with the lists of PASOK in the European parliament, said today that mr Papandreou's replacement without a legal praxis signed by the President of the Republic is not valid. Legal circles of the governmnet stressed that such a praxis is needed only if the replacement takes place due to the prime minister's own will and not in extraordinary cases when it is made neccessary due to external factors.

[03] DISCUSSIONS OVER PAPANDREOU'S SUCCESSION CONTINUE IN PASOK

Secretary of the central committee of PASOK mr Constantinos Scandalidfis in an interview with the daily "ta nea" estimated today that January will be a crucial month for the developments within the party.

The post of the secretary is the second highest post in the party and is held mr Constantinos Scandalidis since last October.

According to the statute of the party, the secretary of the Central Committee can not be a member of the government.

The second part of a poll published since yesterday in the daily Eleftherotipia shows that after mr Papandreou's admission to hospital, the governmental party covered a part of the gap from the main opposition party of New Democracy while the extra parliamentary party of the Coalition of the Left seems to hold the third place in the preferences of the electorate followed by the Political Spring and the Communist Party which are well above the limit of 3%, the minimum for the election of deputies in the parliament.

Main possible candidates for mr Papandreou's succession are the Ministers of Interior Affairs, Public Administration and Decentralization mr Akis Tsohadjopoulos and of National Defense mr Yerassimos Arsenis, speaker of the parliament mr Apostolos Kaklamanis, ex-vice president of the 1980s PASOK governments mr Yannis Haralambopoulos and ex-trade and industry minister mr Constantinos Simitis who according to the polls is first in the preferences of the voters of all parties accoprding to 1993 elections.

It is to be noted that voters saying that they would vote PASOK now are in a relative majority for the election of mr Arsenis's.

The highest decisive body of the governmental socialistic PASOK is the 19-member executive bureau elected from the 150-member central committee which has not met after mr Papandreou was admitted in hospital.

Meanwhile one of the most favourite members of PASOK ex-minister mr Dimitris Tsovolas who resigned from the central committee in which he was elected third in April 1994, said that the establishment of a new party founded by him will be announced in January 1996. Mr Tsovolas has rejected all appeals made to him till now to return to the party.

[04] CYPRUS AND RUSSIA HAVE COMMON TARGETS FOR CYPRUS PROBLEM

Cyprus and Russia have common targets for the promotion of a solution for the Cyprus problem stated russian Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Sergei Krilov after the talks he had in Nicosia with cypriot Foreign Minister Alekos Michailidis.

Responding to the question on what Russia can do in order for the deadlock in the Cyprus problem to be overcomed, the russian official pointed out that the russian diplomacy was and still is "active and effective enough" while he mentioned that Russia now has "additional capabilities" through the UN Security Council and will try to do everything in its power.

[05] ARCHBISHOP OF ALBANIA PROFESSOR EMERITUS IN THEOLOGY SCHOOL

Archbishop of Albania, Anastasios Yiannoulatos will become honorary professor in Thessaloniki's Aristotle University Theology School on Wednesday, December 13th.

The Archbishop is scheduled to make a speech under the title "A Church facing a long-standing and ingenious persecution". Presentation on the Archbishop's personality and work will be made by professor mr.Ziakas.

[07] MAYORS OF CITIES ALEXANDER THE GREAT PASSED TO BE HELD IN 1997

An unprecedented initiative was undertaken by the Pan-Macedonian Associations all over the world after a proposal by the Pan-Macedonian Association of US-Canada. Based on this proposal, the mayors of the cities from where the armies of Alexander the Great passed will be invited to participate in the world conference of Pan- Macedonian Associations that will be held in Thessaloniki in 1997 when the city will be the Cultural Capital of Europe.

The Pan-Macedonian Associations' decision to hold the conference and to invite the mayors was announced by Pan-Macedonian Association of US-Canada Chairman mr.Athanasios Voulgaropoulos to Minister of Macedonia- Thrace mr.Triaridis and to mayor of Thessaloniki mr.Kosmopoulos who expressed their support to this important effort.

For the better preparation of the Pan-Macedonian Associations World Conference was decided the establishment of a permanent Organizing Committee in Thessaloniki headed by mr.Antonis Economou, member of Pan- Macedonian Association of US-Canada Presiding Board.

[08] GREECE AND CYPRUS MADE AGREEMENT ON PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT

An agreement that paves the way for a closer cooperation between Greece and Cyprus in the sector of the environment was signed today by cypriot Argiculture, Natural Resources and Environment Minister, mr.Kostas Petridis and by greek Environment, Land-Planning and Public Works Undersecretary, mrs.Elisavet Papazoi.

The agreement provides for the exchange of information and experience, the systematic exchange of scientific, technical and legal information, the preparation and the implementation of joint programmes, the exchange of visits by specialists and the organization of seminars, meetings and conferences on issues concerning the environment.

[09] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH ON AN FORMAL VISIT TO SWITZERLAND

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos is on an official visit to Switzerland and already met with Swiss Confederation President, Kaspar Vilinger. The Ecumenical Patriarch's visit to Switzerland will last until December 17th and he will also meet with the mayor of the swiss capital, members of the government and the President of the Canton of Geneva. Also, he will visit the World Council of Churches and the Conference of the European Churches.

The Ecumenical Patriarch is also scheduled to visit the President of the International Olympic Committee in Lauzanne, the Orthodox Patriarchic Center in Geneva, the Metropolis of Switzerland, the newly established Cultural Center "Agios Dimitrios" in Zurich, german-speaking Swiss parishes and the neighbouring Lichtenstein where he will meet with Prince Hans-Adam.

In his speech during his meeting with the President of the Swiss Confederation, Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos praised the virtues of the swiss people and thanked the Swiss Confederation for its interest and care shown toward the Orthodox Christians living in the country and toward the Orthodox Church.