A.N.A. Bulletin, 07/12/95

From: "Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada" <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>

Athens News Agency Directory

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No. 760), December 7, 1995

Greek Press & Information Office

Ottawa, Canada

E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca

CONTENTS

[1] Premier undergoes tracheotomy to assist breathing, condition stable

A medical bulletin issued by the Onassion Centre at 8:15pm last night said the general condition of Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou's health remained unchanged and that he had undergone a successful tracheotomy two hours earlier.

Doctors considered he had reacted well to the hour-long operation, which cut a hole in the windpipe under a local anesthetic. Specialists said Mr. Papandreou's breathing would be assisted, for the next five days at least, through a respirator, to be applied on the tracheotomy.

A midday bulletin said the premier's breathing continued to be assisted by a respirator, alternatively with full or partial support.

"Due to the fact that the use of the respirator is expected to be prolonged, it has been deemed necessary to perform a tracheotomy, which will facilitate the improved mobility of the patient from his bed," the bulletin said.

It added that the prime minister's renal function continued to improve, supported by a kidney machine, while his heart function remained unchanged. The improved renal function was expected to considerably assist his breathing, doctors said.

Nevertheless, they pointed out that despite the fact that the prime minister was gaining strength day by day, his condition remained serious, and special care was needed to deal with any complications that may arise.

In a related development, main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert last night sent a letter to the medical team treating the premier asking to be informed about the present condition of Mr. Papandreou's health and the forecasts of hi s physicians on how it was likely to develop. According to ND sources, Mr. Evert also asked if Mr. Papandreou had "a clear mind" and was able to carry out his duties.

In the letter, the sources said, Mr. Evert underlined that while he sympathized with the premier's close friends and family, "the public interest takes precedence."

Replying to questions on Mr. Evert's letter, government spokesman Telemahos Hytiris said that from the moment that someone was standing in for Mr. Papandreou, it was "pointless" to put questions about his health to Health Minister Dimitris Kremastinos, who is also the prime minister's personal physician.

In a short space of time, Mr. Hytiris added, Mr. Evert had contradicted himself in statements.

Asked if the government agreed with Mr. Evert that party leaders should be briefed directly about the premier's condition, Mr. Hytiris said that the medical team attending to Mr. Papandreou would reply to the ND leader's letter.

The spokesman added that those political leaders who asked Mr. Kremastinos to be informed about the premier's health had been briefed immediately.

He denied knowledge of whether a pacemaker had been fitted to the premier's heart, as reported in the Athens press.

Mr. Hytiris reiterated that there was no question of the prime minister being replaced, as he was being substituted for according to law, and declined comment on the meeting, earlier in the day, between Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis and former minister and deputy Costas Simitis.

Questioned whether the government believed there were foreign centers undermining PASOK's unity, he replied that the government had never made a statement to that effect, and relative reports were not of concern to it.

[2] Romeos calls for national council on foreign, defence policy

Alternate Foreign Minister George Romeos yesterday called for the formation of a 'National Council for Foreign Policy and Defence' with the participation of all the political forces of the country, to better protect Greece's national interests.

"It is quite clear that the efforts of all, both in and outside Greece, for the protection of our national interests, would be more effective and fruitful if they are based on a single and fixed foreign policy," Mr. Romeos said in an address to the World Council of Overseas Hellenism conference in Thessaloniki.

He underlined, however, that such a policy could only be possible with the co-operation and consent of all the political forces in the country. Mr. Romeos said that with the European Union as Greece's focal point, a framework of co-operation should be developed with the countries of eastern and central Europe, the Balkans, the Mediterranean, the CIS and the Baltic region and that Greek communities in those areas could help.

"Because their members know better than anyone else the particularities of the states in which they live and work, the regional councils of overseas Hellenism can become unofficial envoys of the Greek state," Mr. Romeos said.

He added that this would enable greater progress in co-operation between the European Union, Greece and the host countries of the overseas Greeks on development issues.

It would also facilitate the briefing of public opinion in those countries about Greece's positions and policies on matters currently of concern to the united Europe.

[3] PASOK cadres stress unity, succession scenarios not an issue

President of the Greek Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis and PASOK deputy and former minister Costas Simitis held a meeting yesterday to discuss political developments in internal party affairs.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, which lasted over an hour, Mr. Kaklamanis said:

"At this point we should make every effort to keep the party united. We should ensure the necessary conditions so that the party will proceed without internal or external interventions aspiring to influence politics."

Describing the meeting as "good", Mr. Simitis said it was significant at this moment that the party agreed on its policy and not on successors.

Both men denied that the issue of Mr. Papandreou's successor had been discussed during the meeting.

Mr. Kaklamanis said the succession issue was more a concern for the mass media.

"PASOK has a president and the country a prime minister," he added.

Mr. Simitis said the issue of a successor was premature, adding that "we should focus on our course. We all agree that there are problems to be dealt with."

[4] Arsenis, Laliotis meet

After a meeting with Environment Minister Costas Laliotis, who has planned contacts with all prominent party members, Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis said their discussion had touched on many issues, and that the ruling party's unity was secure.

There was an identity of views on all issues discussed, he added.

Meanwhile, Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos accused New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert of succumbing to attempts to "create impressions" after the main opposition leader met with constitutional experts over the implications of the prime minister's illness and requested written briefings on the course of the premier's health.

He said Mr. Evert was trying to create negative impressions regarding the functioning of the government, instead of submitting proposals on the country's great problems.

The government, he added, was functioning normally and effectively, through the steady operation of all its collective institutional organs.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos departed for Brussels yesterday afternoon, to take part in the sessions of the Socialist International.

[5] Yiannopoulos: premier's health primary concern

Former minister and PASOK deputy Evangelos Yiannopoulos called upon party deputies yesterday to assure the Greek people that "at this time the only concern is the course of Andreas Papandreou's health."

In a draft declaration to the party's Parliamentary Group, Mr. Yiannopoulos called upon PASOK deputies to assure the Greek people that they guarantee the course of the movement.

Emphasizing that at party concerns do not centre around figures but policies, Mr. Yiannopoulos said:

"The major request of the progressive and democratic people is the insurance of our election victory in 1997 elections."

[6] New British ambassador to Greece named

Michael Llewellyn Smith CMG has been appointed as Britain's new Ambassador to Greece, replacing Mr. Oliver Miles CMG who will be retiring in March next year.

Mr. Llewellyn Smith, 56, currently Ambassador to Warsaw, served previously in Athens in 1980-84 as Counsellor for Political Affairs and Consul-General.

Mr. Llewellyn Smith has held posts in Moscow, Paris and in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

He is married, and has a son and a daughter.

A Patras court yesterday heard an appeal by the three Palestinians found guilty of planting a bomb in the centre of Patras in 1991, which killed six people.

Assad Nubani and Ibrahim B'kariat were both sentenced to life plus 25 years for the attack and Aoud Al-Kalil was sentenced to nine and a half years.

[7] ATHENS NEWS AGENCY ON THE INTERNET

As of November 1, you can find the Athens News Agency's news service on the Internet with a brief review of the main news items, in Greek or English, twice a day (at 12:30pm and updated at 4:30pm).

Log in to our Internet address: http://www.forthnet.gr/guests/ape and keep abreast with the latest news from Greece.

[8] President, Tsohatzopoulos confer on current issues

President Kostis Stephanopoulos yesterday held a meeting with Public Administration, Interior and Decentralization Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos on current issues.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos is deputizing for Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou.

Following the 40-minute meeting, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos told the press that he had briefed the president on the state of Mr. Papandreou's health and preparations for the Madrid summit.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos will represent Greece at the summit, at which Greece "will assume certain initiatives", he said, without going into further details.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos also briefed the president on the course of the budget debate in Parliament.

Asked to comment on the budget, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said the government would present all positive economic developments to Parliament to prove that 1996 will be a year of economic recovery.

He added that the government was functioning normally and all issues were being dealt with.

[9] Iakovos receives distinction from Thrace's Dimocrition University

Archbishop of North and South America Iakovos was awarded the distinction of "Friend of the Thrace Dimocrition University" during an official ceremony that took place last night at the university campus in Komotini.

During his speech, the Archbishop referred to his personal struggles for the spread of the Orthodox faith in America, stressing that "Orthodoxy is the only word that can unite Greeks; it is the wind beneath Greece's wings."

Speaking about Thrace, he stated the land must be considered sacred, both by Greeks and by neighboring countries.

[10] Three new prisons announced

The justice ministry announced yesterday its decision to establish three new prisons to hold inmates from the overcrowded Athens Korydallos prison.

The prefabricated jails will be built in the areas of Tirintha in Argolida, Kassavetia in Volos and Cassandra in Halkidiki on property belonging to the justice ministry and will hold 300 inmates each.

The prefabricated buildings are similar to those used for prisons in Germany and Holland and provides greater security with the added benefits of lower construction and running costs.

It is hoped the prisons will be operational within 1996.

[11] President, Arsenis attend Greek Navy celebrations

The Greek Navy honored its patron saint, Nicholas, yesterday at a special ceremony at the Navy Cadets Academy in Piraeus in the presence of President Kostis Stephanopoulos.

The ceremony was also attended by National Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis, Merchant Marine Minister George Katsifaras, National Defence Under-secretary Nikos Kouris, National Defence Under-secretary Manolis Benteniotis, deputies, party representatives , senior armed forces officers and local authorities.

The event was combined with the anniversary of victorious naval battles fought by "Elli" and "Limnos" during the 1912-1913 Balkan Wars and the 150th anniversary of the Navy Cadets Academy.

[12] Albanian army chief to visit Greece next week

The chief of Albania's armed forces, General Sheme Kosova, will pay an official visit to Greece from December 12-14 at the invitation of his Greek counterpart, Admiral Christos Lymberis.

During his stay, General Kosova will have talks with the political and military leadership of the national defence ministry and visit military installations and archaeological sites, a ministry announcement said.

[13] Expatriate Greeks critical of gov't handling of Skopje issue

The presidents of the Pan-Macedonian Associations of the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia, participating in the inaugural World Council of Overseas Hellenism conference currently underway in Thessaloniki, yesterday expressed their opposition to the government's handling of the Skopje issue.

Addressing a press conference, president of the European Pan-Macedonian Association Vassilis Papachristopoulos described "as most incomplete," the interim accord signed recently between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Mr. Papachristopoulos said that if Greece agreed to the name "Macedonia" or its derivative for Skopje, this would be tantamount to "giving away a part of our identity."

Asked how the associations would react in such an event, Mr. Papachristopoulos said they would fight back but did not elaborate.

Antonis Economou, board member of the United States-Canada Pan-Macedonian Union, said that any Greek government representative signing away the name 'Macedonia' to a non-Greek state was "committing treason against the Greek people."

A US-Canada Pan-Macedonian Association resolution, issued recently, said FYROM should assume "any name determining the multi-ethnic composition and history of the Skopje citizens, as long as it does not contain the term 'Macedonia'."

President of the US-Canada Pan-Macedonian Association, Thanasis Voulgaropoulos said that the 1997 World Council of Pan-Macedonian Associations would take place in Thessaloniki.

[14] New youth organization announced

Education Under-secretary Maria Arseni yesterday announced the establishment of a National Youth Council to include the participation of expatriate Greek youth, during her address to the youth forum held on the sidelines of the World Council of Overseas Hellenism conference in Thessaloniki.

According to Ms Arseni, the council will be a non-governmental organization which will be funded by the Youth Secretariat and aim at coordinating communication among youths in Greece and Greek youths around the world.

[15] Opposition parties critical of new increases in public utility tariffs

The main opposition New Democracy party yesterday said that the government's move to increase phone and water charges was leading to "a dramatic decrease in the incomes of working people".

The increases in the tariffs of the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) and the Athens Water and Sewerage Company (EYDAP) "cancel out the fictitious wage increases announced (in the state budget)," ND deputy Theodoros Kassimis said.

Mr. Kassimis said the government aimed at covering the deficits of state enterprises and organizations with new increases because "it is incapable of controlling its extravagance, organizing public utilities and going ahead with restructuring them through dynamic development."

"The new taxes imposed by the 1996 budget reduce real available income even more and the PASOK government is leading citizens to real squalor for a third year," Mr. Kassimis said.

Referring to the same issue, Political Spring party spokesman Notis Martakis said "the increases in the tariffs of public utilities (DEKO) reveal the failure of the government's economic policy and the deception of the suffering people who had been told repeatedly that there would be no new tax burdens."

Replying to the criticism, government spokesman Telemahos Hytiris said the previous ND government had a policy of tariff increases that had reached 100 per cent, particularly when Stephanos Manos was minister.

He said what was claimed by ND was criticism for the sake of impressions.

Mr. Hytiris said there would be an increase in Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) charges as of January 1, adding that certain public utilities would also increase their tariffs in the second half of 1996.

He also said an extensive government meeting would probably take place during the week to examine issues concerning the budget in light of its discussion at a Parliamentary plenary session.

[16] Budget gets through economic c'tee

"Tax evasion has taken on explosive dimensions," Finance Under-secretary Dimitris Georgakopoulos told parliament's economic committee which approved, after discussion yesterday, the 1996 budget.

"The average tax burden imposed through the objective criteria system corresponds to three-quarters of a cigarette packet a day. As if it were not enough that they steal from the state, they also ask for leniency. This is called audacity," he said.

He admitted, however, that the current social situation and people's taxable capacity did not allow the imposition of any new taxes. A big effort was being made to rationalize expenses and there would be strict measures against tax evasion.

"There is no alternative to the government's economic policy. Recipes that have at times cast doubt on this policy have led to departures from a way out of the crisis," he said.

Mr. Georgakopoulos was at pains to stress that the government would safeguard workers' incomes.

"Pay rises being granted now help in the de-escalation of inflation and a fall in interest rates. We cannot leap to fast growth rates because we will have inflationary pressures. To those who accuse us of a lack of sensitivity, we reply that social sensitivity is not found in wage and pension increases, as there will be a rise in inflation that way."

Speaking before Mr. Georgakopoulos, former minister Theodoros Pangalos defended the government's incomes policy, saying that the period of euphoria had ended and debts had to be repaid.

He said those "such as (New Democracy party leader) Mr. Evert" who "sedate the people with false dreams and promises ... are only interested in the result of their demagogy".

However, he praised former ND national economy ministers George Souflias and Stephanos Manos for their "prudent stands".

New Democracy party deputy Aristidis Tsiplakos expressed doubts as to whether the public investment programme could meet the terms of the European Union.

"It is inadequate, even if we solve all our problems," he said.

[17] News in Brief

Industry, Energy and Technology Under-secretary Dinos Vrettos announced yesterday the completion of the re-privatization of the "ex-Skalistiris" group. The under-secretary noted the industrial group's main department was being transferred to the "VIOLINIT AMETBE" and ALFA SA cooperatives for 1.35 billion drachmas with the commitment that 300 jobs and 1.5 billion drachmas be invested over the next five years.

[18] OA offers cut-price fares for German destinations

Olympic Airways is offering cut-price tickets valid for travel between December 6, 1995 and March 31,1996, for the German towns of Dusseldorf, Stuttgart, Frankfurt and Munich.

The cheaper return tickets to all four German cities are valid for passage on certain days of the week: for Dusseldorf on Saturday, Sunday and Monday; for Stuttgart on Friday, Saturday and Sunday; and for Frankfurt and Munich on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. All tickets cost 64,100 drachmas from Athens and 52,600 drachmas from Thessaloniki.

During December 15-26, the price will increase 71,800 drachmas from Athens and 64,100 drachmas from Thessaloniki. Tickets issued in Germany for the same trips are priced on a similar level.

Olympic Airways Director Nikos Doganis said 1995 was ending with Greece's national carrier in the black for the first time.

Addressing the conference on expatriate Hellenism in Thessaloniki yesterday, Mr. Doganis said it would be the first time the company had shown a profit since it came under the control of the state.

[19] Samaras in Cyprus

Political Spring leader Antonis Samaras arrived in Cyprus last night, at the invitation of the Cypriot Young Businessmen Union.

In statements made on his arrival in Larnaca airport, Mr. Samaras repeated his party's position for the immediate convening of a pan-hellenic conference on the Cyprus issue with the aim of producing a common strategy on the unified defence doctrine and Cyprus's entry to the European Union.

[20] Mikroutsikos inaugurates Kostakis collection at National Gallery

Culture Minister Thanos Mikroutsikos inaugurated an exhibition of Russian avant-garde painters of the 1910-1930 era belonging to the Kostakis collection at the National Gallery last night.

Mr. Mikroutsikos said the exhibition fulfilled the country's duty on behalf of the collector Kostakis.

The exhibition, entitled "Russian Pioneers 1910-1930", will last four months and is jointly organized by the National Gallery and the European Cultural Centre of Delphi.

President Kostis Stephanopoulos visited the exhibition last night.

[21] News in Brief

Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis yesterday discussed problems affecting journalists' social insurance funds with Athens Journalists' Union (ESHEA) president Dimitris Glavas.

End of English language section.