BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN (10/01/1996)

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, January 10 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[01] THE CONDITION OF THE GREEK PRIME MINISTER IS UNCHANGED

The condition of greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou is unchanged and according to the latest medical bulletin issued by the Onassion Cardiology Center the patient's respiratory function was supported by respirator only during the night in the past 24 hours.

Also, is mentioned that the patient had a temperature yesterday and the causes are being examined. The kinesiotherapy and the respiratory physiotherapy program continue.

[02] PARLIAMENT TO VOTE TONIGHT ON NON-CONFIDENCE PROPOSAL

The three-day parliamentary session on the vote of non-confidence is coming to a close at midnight when the members will cast their open votes, yet the heated debate may continue for long thereafter.

The non-confidence vote was a proposal brought to parliament by the country's main opposition party New Democracy whose leader, mr. Miltiades Evert, is aiming at the removal and replacement of the hospitalized Prime Minister, Andreas Papandreou.

During today's parliament session, Minister of Health Dimitris Kremastinos, who is also the prime minister's personal physician, said that he had informed the Executive Bureau on mr. Papandreou's slow recovery and added that the premier will need at least two months for the full recovery of his health, provided there are not further complications.

While the health minister emphasized that no physician, greek or foreign, is in a position to commit himself regarding the premier's release from the hospital, he repeated that there is no time schedule regarding the premier's health recovery and reminded that two of mr. Papandreou's basic functions are supported mechanically.

In closing, mr. Kremastinos told parliament members that "mr. Papandreou is giving his hardest fight without the due respect granted to him."

Mr. Antonis Samaras, leader of the second in power opposition party Political Spring, made caustic comments that were aimed equally at PASOK and New Democracy which parties he called "two sides of the same coin."

"The uproar that surrounds the premier's hospitalization is diverting the state's attention from more crucial issues such as foreign policy," said mr. Samaras, adding that the burning issue is not the Prime Minister's illness but, rather, the governing party's political line. As for the January 20 target date set by PASOK's Central Committee for the replacement of the prime minister, mr. Samaras said that "on that date we will merely have a formalization of the crisis."

The Political Spring President threatened that his party's parliament representatives will refrain from attending any future parliament sessions until the issue has been resolved.

Minister of Defense and member of the Executive Bureau Gerasimos Arsenis stated that the country's current need is to "respond positively and to address the issue not as a procedural point but as an issue with political meaning."

Mr. Arsenis urged the parliament members to proceed united in the trail that was blazed by PASOK, in order to enable the government's completion of its four-year term and to execute the program established by Andreas Papandreou as prime minister of the country.

Moreover, the minister of defense assured the parliament that the Central Committee's upcoming meeting on January 20 will be a catalyst for solving the problem arising from the absence of the prime minister.

Main opposition party New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert stated that his party's concern is the benefit of the state. Mr. Evert characterized PASOK as lacking bravity and said that "an absent government has succeded an unable government." He added that New Democracy's main aim is to put an end to the lack of leadership which ignores foreign and state policy.

Minister of Interior Affairs, Public Administration and Decentralization Akis Tsohatzopoulos, the main opposition party of attempting to create a climate of instability in the country. The first in the line of power minister, foresaw that PASOK will not be defeated in the next elections which, as he said, will take place in the end of the current four-year term.

In order for the proposal to pass, it must amass at least 151 ayes. PASOK parliamentary members amount to 170, if the absent premier is included, whereas opposition party members total 130.

[03] GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SUPPORTS PRIME MINISTER'S PARTICIPATION

Minister of Press and Media, mr. Tylemachos Hytiris stated today that he does not know if the Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou's physicians have fully informed the premier on the condition of his health. When asked by reporters if the prime minister will be released from the hospital by January 20, mr. Hytiris referred them to the overseeing physicians.

The minister today also reiterated that the Prime Minister's point of view on the process of his replacement Is vital and should be sought. Regarding the possibility of postponing the January 20 date of PASOK Central Committee's meeting which will detemine the guidelines for the premier's replacement, a position supported by Foreign Affairs minister Karolos Papoulias, mr Hytiris stated that only the Executive Bureau can proceed into any change of date.

[04] GREEK TROOPS LEFT FOR BOSNIA TODAY

The greek soldiers participating in NATO's peace implementation force left today Thessaloniki's port for Bosnia. The greek peace mission under the code-name "Bucephalus" is made up of 180 army officers and will arrive in the croatian port of Ploce on board the ferry- boat "Fedra". The soldiers will have with them 130 trucks, personnel carriers and ambulances.

After their arrival in Ploce, the greek soldiers will leave for the region of Visovo in Bosnia in order to meet the 70 greek army officers who are already there.

[05] ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER EXPECTED TO ARRIVE IN ATHENS

Italian Foreign Minister Suzanna Anieli is expected to arrive in Athens this afternoon. Mrs.Anieli, who is the President of the EU Council of Foreign Ministers during the italian EU Presidency, will visit Athens in the framework of her tour to the capital cities of the European Union member-states.

Greek Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias stated yesterday in Athens after his arrival from Paris that the issue of the appointment of an EU representative in Cyprus will be among the topics for disussion in the meeting with his italian counterpart. Mrs.Anieli will also have talks and with alternate Foreign Minister, responsible for European Union issues mr.Giorgos Romeos.

Tomorrow afternoon the italian Foreign Minister will leave for Vienna and then will visit The Hague.

[06] THE GREEK-SKOPJAN TALKS BEGIN IN NEW YORK TOMORROW

The greek-skopjan talks that will deal exclusivelly with the issue of FYROM's name will begin in New York tomorrow under the auspices of the UN and with mr.Cyrus Vance as mediator. In the talks will participate greek Ambassador to the UN Christos Zacharakis and his skopjan counterpart Ivan Tosefski.

Greek Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias reiterated yesterday that Greece will enter the talks with its known positions and that the name "Nova Macedonia" will not be discussed.

[07] LEFTIST JOURNALIST TORTURED TO DEATH IN TURKEY

The Human Rights Association in Turkey accused the country's security forces of torturing to death leftist journalist Metin Goktepe. The Association stresses that the 25yearold journalist who was working for the leftist newspaper "Evrensel" had been arrested with other 1.500 people during the funeral of one of the three victims of the riot in Constantinople's Umraniye Prison.

The Association's Secretary General, Erol Anar stated that the young journalist was taken to a stadium were he was tortured, rejecting the official announcement issued by the turkish authorities according to which Goktepe was found dead in a coffee-shop without any sign of torture.

The turkish Human Rights Association called for the punishment of everyone responsible and asked the authorities to stop the pressures on the press that lead to censorship.

The newspaper "Evrensel" writes today that Goktepe was the 25th journalist who died in Turkey in the last 5 years under undetermined circumstances, because according to the paper, he was telling truths that were intolerable for the authorities.

[08] GREEK STUDIES CENTER AT TEMPLE UNIVERSITY IS RESEARCH HAVEN

The Center of Greek Studies at Philadelphia's Temple University in the United States has been in operation for the last six months and, according to Sociology Professor dr. Kyriakos Kontopoulos, its aim is "the understanding and dissemination of the great values bequeathed on the western civilization by ancient, byzantine and modern Greece."

In addition to conducting research, the Center publishes a monthly magazine, the "Education" with studies of various greek-americans and americans. The featured issues include articles on the arts, sciences, philosophy, politics and sociology.

Included in the Center's plans are ten annual issues of the magazine, lectures, conventions, film festivals and promotions of greek artists. The Center already organized a congress in December of 1995, whose topic was the "Connection of Hellenism with Eastern Christianity."