A.N.A. Bulletin, 15/01/96

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

Athens News Agency Directory

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 787), January 15, 1996

Greek Press & Information Office

Ottawa, Canada

E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca

CONTENTS

[1] Crucial week for political developments ahead

Confidence appeared mounting over the weekend that a process had been set in motion to resolve the political problem stemming from Mr. Papandreou's prolonged absence from his duties, according to statements by several PASOK party officials.

The party's Executive Bureau decided Friday night to convene the Parliamentary Group after the Central Committee meeting on Jan. 20 and 21, and before the end of the month, in order to elect a new premier.

A Bureau delegation will seek a meeting with the premier this week. Final decisions are expected in the crucial Executive Bureau meetings today and Friday, which will formulate recommendations to the Central Committee, while a meeting between President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos and Mr. Papandreou is expected to take place in the next few days in the prime minister's hospital room.

Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, deputizing for the prime minister during his illness, expressed confidence yesterday that the political problem would be solved.

"...at next weekend's meeting of the (PASOK) Central Committee there will be a statement from the president and from the Executive Bureau," Mr. Tsohatzopoulos told a party gathering in Thessaloniki yesterday.

At the same meeting, Transport Minister Evangelos Venizelos said developments were at a final stage.

On Saturday, Mr. Venizelos dismissed statements by Prof. Manitakis, who stated that the president of the republic can, after a "reasonable" time of substitution for the prime minister's position has elapsed, not sign decrees and laws, considering the government a caretaker.

"Parliament has ruled on this by rejecting the censure motion submitted by New Democracy with an overwhelming majority. We are not playing with institutions. There is the daily political reality, and this must be faced according to the constitution and the desires of Greek society," according to Mr. Venizelos, who is also a constitutional law professor.

"There is no problem of legitimacy. There is a political problem, indeed, a big one. We shall provide a solution and we shall provide it now," he said.

Trade Minister Nikos Akritidis, in Thessaloniki to address a business union meeting, said the Central Committee and the ruling PASOK's Parliamentary Group would not be discussing the replacement of the prime minister, since that would have been decided upon beforehand.

"The prime minister himself will help, showing just what a great politician he is," Mr. Akritidis said, adding that Mr. Papandreou will retain the party leadership. PASOK Secretary Costas Skandalidis, addressing a meeting in Katerini, also expressed a view that Mr. Papandreou would co-operate toward solving the current impasse, and that a solution would be reached at next weekend's meeting. Asked what would happen if Mr. Papandreou refused to resign, Education Under-secretary Maria Arseni, also in Katerini, replied:

"The prime minister will weigh the situation... and decide in the interest of the country and the people."

Ms. Arseni nevertheless added she did not believe things would reach such a point.

In another development yesterday, Foreign Ministry Under-secretary responsible for Overseas Greeks Gregoris Niotis said he expected "specific political developments this week," with the premier to dominate developments and "act in a way that not only would trigger new procedures but also allow PASOK to embark on a new course."

President Stephanopoulos on Saturday held a meeting with Health Minister Dimitris Kremastinos, who briefed him on the course of the prime minister's illness.

Mr. Kremastinos is also the premier's personal physician.

The health minister did not respond to journalists' questions after the meeting.

On another front, Mr. Kremastinos was still in possession Saturday evening of a letter addressed to the prime minister by main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert, where he requests Mr. Papandreou to resign.

Mr. Kremastinos, in a letter to Mr. Evert on Friday, stated that he was not the appropriate individual to deliver letter, adding that he also feared the effect of such correspondence on the ailing premier's health. The health minister asked Mr. Evert to send the letter through "appropriate channels."

Mr. Evert countered that as Mr. Papandreou's personal physician, Mr. Kremastinos was the most appropriate person, hinting it was a contradiction for the health minister to maintain that Mr. Papandreou's health was improving and that he was holding discussions with PASOK officials on the one hand, while at the same time he wasn't able to receive Mr. Evert's letter.

Parliamentary Group secretary Dimitris Beis, who visited the prime minister Saturday, upon arrival at the hospital said: "I believe we are on the way to a final solution of the political crisis and the election of a prime minister within January."

[2] Opposition criticism

Dimitris Sioufas, the Parliamentary Group spokesman for the main opposition New Democracy party said yesterday that he would table a draft law to determine "the maximum time of replacement" of the prime minister if the problem remains unsolved following t he PASOK Central Committee meeting on Jan. 20.

Political Spring (Pol.An) leader Antonis Samaras yesterday called on PASOK's "aspiring successors not to play any more with the fortunes of the country and the people." He stressed that the economy appeared to be destabilized and national issues, such as the Cyprus problem and the Skopje issue, remained idle.

Mr. Samaras also accused the government of "putting party interests above national duties."

[3] Other developments

Meanwhile, 30 PASOK deputies expressed in a joint statement their opposition to the appointment of a temporary prime minister or naming of vice presidents. They also criticized suggestions calling for any delay in finding a successor to Mr. Papandreou.

"In this way things continue to remain pending and uncertainty is prolonged, with negative consequences for the country and PASOK," the deputies' statement read.

Stressing that Mr. Papandreou himself "must choose to resign his post," they stated that "not just a solution, but a credible solution is necessary today."

[4] Ethics committee to meet

In another development, the Ethics and Charter Committee will also be in session, focusing mainly on issues regarding PASOK's articles of association.

The party's articles of association do not provide for the replacement of PASOK's president.

[5] PM's condition

The prime minister continued to receive treatment Sunday after spending a quiet night, according to an Onassion Hospital bulletin issued yesterday.

Mr. Papandreou's medical team was expecting the arrival of a pulmonary specialist from the United States yesterday for consultations regarding appropriate therapy for dealing with fluid accumulating in Mr. Papandreou's lungs. The 76-year-old premier's breathing continues to be supported periodically with a respirator, and kidney dialysis is also being continued.

[6] Main Greek peacekeeping detachment lands in Croatia

The main detachment of a Greek transport company participating in NATO-led peacekeeping forces in Bosnia arrived in the Croatian port of Ploce Saturday afternoon.

According to the Beta news agency out of the Yugoslav capital, 183 Greek soldiers disembarked and headed for the Visoko region of Bosnia, some 70 kilometers northwest of Sarajevo.

An earlier group of 53 Greek soldiers and officers has already arrived in the area to prepare for the main body of troops, who are bringing some 560 tones of military equipment and 60 vehicles with them.

[7] Illegal immigrant roundup in Kavala

Kavala police arrested 71 illegal immigrants, 65 from Albania, working in the prefecture, according to reports.

The group was deported, reports state.

Approximately 1,500 illegals, mostly Albanians, were deported from eastern Macedonia and Thrace last year.

[8] 'De facto' tax criteria ruled constitutional

The Council of State has ruled in favor of the constitutionality of "de facto" criteria for determining revenue levels of self-employed professionals, first introduced in 1987.

Overturning previous administrative court rulings, the Council accepted that such criteria aim at ascertaining the minimum taxable capability of a particular category of taxpayers, and that such criteria do not violate provisions regarding taxation equality, separation of powers or the freedom to chose and engage in a particular profession.

End of English language section.