[01] DOCTORS SPEAK ON STABILIZATION OF PAPANDREOU'S HEALTH CONDITION

[02] ATHENS HAS SUGGESTIONS CONCERNING EMPLOYMENT IN EUROPE

[03] GOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS THE 1996 BUDGET

[04] SESSION OF THE GOVERNMENTAL MPs REFUSED

[05] REPRESENTATIVES OF GREEKS LIVING ABROAD MET ACTING PRIME MINISTER

[06] PERMANENT ALL-PARTY COMMITTEE FOR THE OVERSEAS HELLENISM

[07] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVED THE US AMBASSADOR IN ATHENS

[08] STATUS QUO IN CYPRUS IS UNACCEPTABLE, SAYS UN SECRETARY GENERAL

[09] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH VISITED WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES IN GENEVA

[01] DOCTORS SPEAK ON STABILIZATION OF PAPANDREOU'S HEALTH CONDITION

Greek Prime Minister mr Andreas Papandreou's medical condition remained stabilized all day today according to the usual second medical bulletin of the day issued late at night.

According to the bulletin issued by the board of doctors observing mr Papandreou since he was admitted in the Onassion Cardiology Center, one of the best equipped hospitals in Europe on November 20th, the prime minister's renal functioning is supported but the respirator used on him since yesterday noon has been removed, his heart functioning remains unchanged, his blood pressure is normal and his brain is working perfectly.

It was a sudden deterioration which appeared late in the afternnon yesterday which concerned the board of doctors, most of whom are university professors. observing him since he was admitted to hospital suffering form a form of pneumonia.

According to the first report of the day issued at 13:30 the course of Prime Minister's health was stable while the fever he developed yesterday had dropped.

In the same medical bulletin, the doctors stressed that the general condition of the Prime Minister's health appears stabilized, the fever he developed yesterday had receded and the treatment with antibiotics continued while it was mentioned that the functioning of his heart remained unchanged while the renal functioning continued to be supported by artificial kidney.

After the fever had dropped today the patient was taken off the respirator and according to the report the clinical and lab tests did not indicate any special problems on him.

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] ATHENS HAS SUGGESTIONS CONCERNING EMPLOYMENT IN EUROPE

Greek positions in advance of the European Union Summit due in Madrid next weekend, were examined today during a meeting of the governmental committee under the acting prime minister mr Akis Tsohadjopoulos, who holding the portfolio of the Inteior Affairs, Public Administration and Decentralization is the first in order minister and according to the greek law for the government replaces the prime minister.

In a statment after the session, Mr Tsohadjopoulos who is will head the greek deligation in the summit said that Athens has certain suggestions concerning employment which he characterised as the most important problem for Europe today.

Acting prime minister said that the next five years are very crucial for Europe since next year starts the intergovernmental conference which is expected to finish in 1997 while 1998 will be the year to judge which european union member states will enter the financial and monetary union.

Mr Tsohadjopoulos will head the greek deligation in the summit of the leaders of the European Socialst party which will take place in Madrid next Thursday. Mr Tsohadjopoulos is one of the vice - presidents of the party.

[03] GOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS THE 1996 BUDGET

The 1996 budget, the voting on which is according to the greek constitution regarded as a vote of confidence for the government, will be examined in a session the relevant governmental committee will have tomorrow under the minister of the Inteior Affairs, Public Administration and Decentralization mr Akis Tsohadjopoulos who as the first in order minister replaces the Prime Minister who has been in hospital since November 20th.

Mr Tsohadjopoulos said all financial minister will take part in the session which will prepare the governmental position before the three -day debate in the parliament due to start on December 19th.

[04] SESSION OF THE GOVERNMENTAL MPs REFUSED

Mr Akis Tsohadjopoulos, acting prime minister since greek Prime Minister mr Andreas Papandreou entered hospital on November 20th contradicted today that there are thoughts in the goverment that the MPs of the party have a formal session so that they be informed by the Minister of Health and personal doctor of the prime minister;s mr Dimitris Kremastinos on the real medical situation of mr Papandreou's.

The suggestion for such a special session is said to have been deposited by MPs of the party who will submit ity officially to the presidium of the parliamentary group which according to the Press and Media Minister mr Tilemahos Hitiris can be convoked only by the Prime Minister.

Mr Hitiris said today that it is imposible that mr Kremastinos daily briefs the journalists on the situation of mr Papandreou's.

Mr Hitirs reminded that the acting spokesman of the council observing mr Papandreou professor Grigoris Scalkeas refused to continue the briefing after he had been accused of working as a governmental spokesman.

The Minister said that the governmnet wishes a doctor was found to brief journalists and is pushing the directorate of the Onassion cardiology center wher mr Papandreou has been for 23 days to solve the problem of the briefing of the journalists.

The Minister used high tones to answer to the criticism made on him for his optimistic estimations that mr Papandreou will return home within the next 20 days saying that his role as a spokesman is institutional.

[05] REPRESENTATIVES OF GREEKS LIVING ABROAD MET ACTING PRIME MINISTER

Realistic prospects for the upgrading of Greece, the greeks and Hellenism are being opened with the new institution of the Council of Overseas Hellenism, according to Minister of the Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization, mr.Akis Tsohatzopoulos.

The statement was made after the meeting mr.Tsohatzopoulos had with members of the Council of Overseas Hellenism Board of Directors headed by Chairman mr.Andrew Athens. The Council of Overseas Hellenism representatives later met and with Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias.

Mr.Tsohatzopoulos stated that the new institution showed after its founding conference held in Thessaloniki that hellenism has increadible potential, through the exploitation of cooperation, all over the world. He also said that the greeks abroad have expressed strong interest for the important national issues which are still open and constitute a challenge for Hellenism.

[06] PERMANENT ALL-PARTY COMMITTEE FOR THE OVERSEAS HELLENISM

The making of the all-party Committee for the Overseas Hellenism into a permanent and continuous one, was announced today by Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis after his meeting with the newly elected members of the Council of Overseas Hellenism. In the meeting were also present Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs responsible for issues concerning the Overseas Hellenism mr.Grigoris Niotis, the Parliamentary Committee Chairman for the Overseas Hellenism mr.Dimitris Sotirlis and Parliament deputies participating in the committee.

Speaking after the meeting mr.Kaklamanis expressed the wish that the Council of Overseas Hellenism will achieve its goals and called the state and the Church to cooperate in order to be overcomed all the problems.

Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs mr.Niotis expressed satisfaction for the support offered by all the political parties stressing that through the unity of Hellenism and Church every problem will be overcomed.

[07] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVED THE US AMBASSADOR IN ATHENS

Greek Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias met at noon today with US Ambassador to Athens Thomas Niles, who will be in the United States for the Christmas Holidays.

After meeting with the greek Foreign Minister, mr.Niles stated that they had a general discussion and expressed the hope that the progress achieved in the greek-skopjan relations and in the Balkans will continue.

The US Ambassador also expressed the hope that next year the efforts for progress in the Cyprus problem will continue.

[08] STATUS QUO IN CYPRUS IS UNACCEPTABLE, SAYS UN SECRETARY GENERAL

UN Secretary General Boutros Ghali in his report to the UN Security Council mentions that as he has maintained repeatedly "the status quo in Cyprus is unacceptable". The UN Security Council will meet the day after tomorrow in order to extend the UN peacekeeping force mandate in Cyprus until August 30, 1996.

In his report mr.Ghali mentions that under the present circumstances the presence of the UN peacekeeping forces in Cyprus continues to be necessary adding that it must be made clear to all interested parties that the situation is not stagnant and the delay in reaching an overall solution is not in the interest of any side. The UN Secretary General expresses concern over the excessive levels of military forces and armaments in Cyprus and the speed with which they are reinforced.

[09] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH VISITED WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES IN GENEVA

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos speaking yesterday in the World Council of Churches based in Geneva said that the role of Orthodoxy in the Council is characterized by solidarity and necessary resistance to conversion.

The Ecumenical Patriarch referred directly to the accusations according to which the Orthodox (former Socialist) countries are regarded as "regions of church missions and religious conversion".

The Ecumenical Patriarch underlined that the Ecumenical Patriarchate regards the World Council of Churches as a blessed instrument of the Churches which allows their cooperation for the promotion of the Christian unity and the healing of various problems faced by modern man.