BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN (15/01/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

Thessaloniki, January 15, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[01] POLITICAL MOBILITY IN GREECE DUE TO HEIGHTEN THIS WEEK

Stemming from the almost two-month long hospitalization of 77-year-old Premier Andreas Papandreou, the two-day session will bring together the 170 PASOK members of the 300-seat parliament in order to vote on a new premier.

While it is feasible that mr.Papandreou will remain the Party's president, there is no possibility of a vice- presidential appointment, according to party officials.

[02] PRIME MINISTER IS CONTINUOUSLY INFORMED, SAYS THE GOVERNMENT

Responding to the question concerning the time of the Prime Minister's meeting with the President of the Republic, mr.Athanasakis reiterated last week's government statement by saying that the Prime Minister has expressed the wish to meet with the President in suitable time.

To the question on whether the governing party's Central Committee meeting will be postponed in case the Prime Minister resigns before January 20th, mr.Athanasakis said that as a member of the Central Committee has no such information.

[03] PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC MET WITH SPEAKER OF THE PARLIAMENT

After the meeting mr.Kaklamanis said that with President Stephanopoulos he discussed issues of substance and also issues concerning the procedures that can be followed, adding that they agreed that the problem must be solved as soon as possible.

Mr.Kaklamanis also said that there will be a resignation as no other view is being expressed adding that the country has serious problems and must have a new Prime Minister soon.

[04] OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER TO MEET WITH PRESIDENT OF REPUBLIC

New Democracy spokesman Vasilis Magginas stated that mr. Evert will make known to mr. Stefanopoulos his chagrin about the developed crisis stemming from the Premier's extended hospitalization. Mr. Magginas also stated that the opposition party does not plan to intensify its efforts to overrule PASOK, until the upcoming Central Committee session is to be completed this weekend.

According to informed sources, New Democracy officials expect that the upcoming Central Committee meeting will offer a solution to the prime ministerial vacancy, however, they fear that hostile scenarios within PASOK will emerge immediately thereafter, something that could deepen the country's political instability.

After its defeated parliamentary motion to propose a no-confidence vote, New Democracy plans to table a motion in parliament calling for an amendment to the law on the cabinet "facilitating and at the same time binding the government majority to replace the premier."

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

In the medical bulletin is also mentioned that the patient has no fever and he underwent axial tomography that will help the attendant doctors to monitor the fluid gathered in his lungs.

[06] MINISTER OF DEFENSE SAYS THERE IS NO DANGER FOR UNIT IN BOSNIA

Mr.Arsenis stressed that Greece does not intent to increase its military force deployed in Bosnia within the framework of the NATO peace implementation force, adding that the alliance will not ask for something like that during 1996.

Also, mr.Arsenis reiterated that he will visit Bosnia soon.

[07] BOSNIAN SERBS VIEW FAVORABLY FINANCIAL CONTRACTS WITH GREECE

A team of "Serbian Democracy" representatives from Bosnia recently visited Greece to sign a protocol of economic collaboration between the two states.

At the same time, greek and bosnian-serb companies are laying the groundworks to open a commonly-held industrial building palnt in southeastern Bosnia's town Nevsinyie.

Kolievic stated that economic collaborations between the Serb Republlc and the Federation of Yugoslav Republics will be reviewed in the near future.

He added that in order to achieve this, the participants must refrain from participating in press wars.

"The furture partners must not view each other as an aggressive fanatic, " he said.

[08] GREEK MINISTER OF DEFENSE ASKS FOR NATO HEADQUARTERS IN GREECE

Mr.Arsenis said that those issues will be discussed in Athens with the new NATO Secretary General mr.Javie Solana who will visit Greece in late February or early March.

[09] ROMANIAN NAVY CHIEF OF STAFF WILL TO GREECE IN JANUARY

The romanian Chief of Staff will have talks with his greek counterpart mr.Staga and will visit the installations of the Eastern Meditteranean Military Command and the Fleet Headquarters.

[10] THE PRISON RIOT IN THE CENTRAL GREEK CITY OF VOLOS ENDED

According to the local police, the riot started by about 20 young albanian inmates who had been transfered to Volos from the Korydalos Prison in Athens after the recent uprising.

The rioters assisted by 7 very dangerous romanian criminals last night refused to return to their prison cells demanding better living conditions and in the clashes that followed one prison guard was injured.

They were persuaded to return to their cells this morning after a meeting with local prosecutor who assured them that the living conditions in the prison will improve.

[11] CYPRUS WANTS US AND EU EFFORTS FOR SOLUTION COORDINATED

Commenting on the expected initiative that will be undertaken by the italian EU Presidency on the Cyprus problem, mr.Michailidis said that in a meeting of the EU Political Committee he expects to be determined both the role of the European coordinator in Cyprus and the exact relationship of the european and the US initiative.

Mr.Michailidis also said that any initiative that will be undertaken during the italian EU Presidency must continue and after the end of its term.

The italian EU Presidency is expected to submit to the European Union Political Committee a complete proposal next Thursday. In the proposal will be mentioned what the italian EU Presidency is willing to do and how it plans to act both on the issue of Cyprus' accesion course into the EU and on the appointment of an EU coordinator.