BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN (28/12/1995)

From: Macedonian Press Agency <mpa@uranus.eng.auth.gr>

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

Thessaloniki, December 28 1995

NEWS IN ENGLISH

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[01] THE CONDITION OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S HEALTH IS UNCHANGED

The state of greek Prime Minister mr Andreas Papandreou's health remained unchanged in the past 24 hours, according to the first medical bulletin of the day issued at noon today by the board of doctors observing him in the Onasion Cardiology Center of Athens, one of the best equipped in Europe, where mr Papandreou was admitted on November 20th.

The medical bulletin mentioned that the treatment with antibiotics continues while the patient's respiratory function and his renal function are periodically supported by respirator and artificial kidney.

Mr Papandreou, born in February 1919, has been prime minister of the country for almost ten years.

He is married to ms Demetra Liani and from a previous marriage he has four children one of whom is the minister of Education mr Giorgos Papandreou

[02] PASOK CONTINUES DEBATE ON PAPANDREOU'S SUCCESSION

Health Minister mr Dimitris Cremastinos appeared todat ready to brief everybody officially concerned on the condition of the health of the greek prime minister mr Andreas Papandreou who has been treated in hospital since November 20th.

In an interview with the daily Eleftherotipia mr Cremastinos who has been mr Papandreou's personal doctor since he was submitted to an open heart operation in 1988 said that he is willing to brief all governing bodies of the socialistic PASOK, being in office since October 1993 for a four year mandate.

The Secretary of the 150-member central committee of the party mr Constantinos Scandalidis has said that all in-party procedures for an eventuality of by Papandreou being succeeded to, will start in January, although a number of deputies, among which ex-Justice Minister mr Giorgos Kouvelakis insist that it should start now.

According to the greek constitution in case there is a lack in the post of the prime minister's. the new to get the post is elected by the the parliamentary group of the governing party.

PASOK has 170 deputies in the parliament, mr Papandreou included. Three of them have already announced their intention to run for the presidency in case there is such an eventuality. They are the minister of national defense mr Yerasssimos Arsenis, the ex-trade and industry minister mr Constantinos Simitis and the 1980s PASOK governments vice minister mr Yannis Haralambopoulos.

PASOK was founded in 1974 by mr Andreas Papandreou under whom they won three general elections, two successive in 1981 and 1985 and the third in October 1993.

[03] TURKISH "FANTOM"'S FALL NOT DUE TO RECOGNITION SAYS GREEK MINISTER

The turkish Fantom's fall in the sea, about 9 miles south-west of the greek island of Lesvos in north-eastern Aegean was not due to the action of recognition taken by the greek airforce said late this afternoon the greek defense minister mr Yerassimos Arsenis who added that still is has not been known whether it fell due to engine failure or to other reasons.

Mr Arsenis noted that his turkish counterpart expressed the hope that the whole case was just an accident.

One of the pilots, 34-year-old Ongiour Ghiral has already been rescued nad he is treated in the hospital of Mitilini, the capital of the island while the other pilot is still being looked for by units of the greek war navy and airforce.

The turkish "Fantom" crashed at 2:30pm today.

[04] NEW MESSAGE TO IAKOVOS FROM THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH

The Ecumenical Patriarchy has sent another letter to the Archbishop of North and South America Iakovos in which it accuses the Archbishop of further developing his intentions for autonomy within the church and states that he is "turning against the Mother Church."

In his prompt reply to the Patriarchy, Iakovos wrote that he "has done nothing wrong."

The Holy Synod has decided not to extend the Archbishop's term past its expiry date of July 29 1996.

Meanwhile, the Archbishop's bishops have claimed total devotion to the Ecumenical Patriarchy and have challenged Iakovos to "accept his responsibilities."

The Federation of Greek Unions of the Greater New York has announced its support of the Archbishop.

[05] US CONGRESS DISCUSSES RPOHIBITION OF SALE OF US ATACMS TO TURKEY

US House Representatives Robert Toricelli and Michael Bilirakis introduced draft resolutions calling the US House of Representatives to express to US President Clinton the US Congress position that the sale of US ATACMS missiles to Turkey must be stopped. Also, the American Hellenic Institute - AHIPAC calls the american people and the people all over the world to participate in a protest campaign with letters addressed to the US President in order to exercise presure against the sale of the missiles.

Protest activities on the same issue are undertaken by the Federation of American Scientists Fund, the Human Rights Watch, the Kurdish National Congress and the American Kurdish Information Network, among other organizations.

In their draft resolutions the two US House Representatives mention that the continued military campaign of the turkish government against the Kurds, the embargo on Armenia, the obstacles raised by Ankara preventing the achievement of progress in the Cyprus problem and the transport of weapons from Turkey to Azerbaijan without the approval of NATO and the United States, demonstrate the need to postpone the sale of ATACMS missiles to Turkey unless the turkish government improves the human rights situation, lifts the embargo against Armenia and starts making efforts for the achievement of progress on the Cyprus problem.

A similar draft resolution was tabled by US House Representative Frank Pallone while AHIPAC undertook a protest campaign directed to the White House calling the people to telephone President Clinton or to send him a protest letter against the sale of ATACMS missiles to Turkey.

[06] GREEK BUSINESSMEN WILL VISIT TIRANA AND BEIRUT

The Organization for the Promotion of Exports organises a business delegation made up of greek investors who will visit Tirana by the end of January.

The sectors with great investment interest in Albania are the exploitation of energy resources, and technical works of infrastructure (road network, electricity supply network, railroads, improvement of telecommunications, tourist infrastructure, leather processing for the manufacturing of shoes and leather goods, chemical industries and textiles).

Meanwhile, another business delegation organized by the Commerce and Industry Chamber in Athens will visit Beirut on January 17-21, 1996.

The delegation aims at increasing the business contacts between greek and lebanesse businessmen. Goods with promotion potential are dairy products, farm products, canned fruits and vegetables, olive oil, wines, clothes and fabrics.