Voice of America, 96-06-23

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From: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>

CONTENTS

[01] POMPADREOU OBIT (L) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVAS (ATHENS)

[02] GREECE / PAPANDREOU (S) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVAS (ATHENS)

[03] PAPANDREOU OBIT (S ONLY) BY SUZANNA ANDERSON (WASHINGTON)

[04] ANDREAS PAPANDREOU OBIT BY CHRISTINE FURNELL (LONDON)

[05] BOSNIA/KARADZIC (S) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

[06] BOSNIA/KARADZIC (L) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

[01] POMPADREOU OBIT (L) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVAS (ATHENS)

INTRO: GREEK SOCIALIST LEADER AND FORMER PRIME MINISTER ANDREAS PAPANDREOU HAS DIED OF HEART FAILURE. THE NEWS HAS PLUNGED GREECE INTO MOURNING AND SOCIALIST PARTY LEADERS ARE TRYING TO MAP OUT A FUTURE WITHOUT THEIR LEGENDARY LEADER. ANTHEE CARASSAVAS REPORTS FROM ATHENS.

TEXT: IN A FLAG-DRAPED CASKET, ANDREAS PAPANDREOU'S BODY WAS LAID IN STATE AT THE METROPOLIS CATHEDRAL IN CENTRAL ATHENS. THOUSANDS OF GRIEF-STRICKEN GREEKS GATHERED TO PAY THEIR LAST RESPECTS TO THE 77-YEAR-OLD VETERAN POLITICIAN.

MR. PAPANDREOU, A FORMER U-S CITIZEN AND HARVARD-TRAINED ECONOMIST, DIED IN HIS HOME FROM A SEVERE HEART ATTACK.

PRAISED LIKE A GOD IN SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, TELEVISION AND RADIO INTERRUPTED PROGRAMMING TO BROADCAST NEWS OF HIS DEATH. MR. PAPANDREOU SUFFERED FROM CHRONIC HEART, BREATHING, AND KIDNEY PROBLEMS.

HE WAS HOSPITALIZED IN NOVEMBER FOR FOUR MONTHS IN INTENSIVE CARE. HIS PROLONGED ILLNESS FORCED HIM TO RESIGN FROM THE PREMIERSHIP IN JANUARY. BUT, HE REMAINED AT THE HELM OF THE SOCIALIST PASOK PARTY WHICH HE FOUNDED AND THEN RULED WITH AN IRON FIST FOR MORE THAN 20-YEARS.

MR. PAPANDREOU ROSE TO POWER IN 1981, BECOMING GREECE'S FIRST-EVER SOCIALIST LEADER. HE WAS RE-ELECTED FOR A SECOND TERM AND SCORED A SMASHING COMEBACK TO POWER THREE-YEARS AGO.

SUPPORTERS ADORED HIM FOR HIS FIERY BALCONY SPEECHES, BUT HIS FIRST EIGHT-YEARS AS PREMIER ENDED AMID ALLEGATIONS OF POLITICAL SCANDAL AND A MESSY DIVORCE FROM HIS WIFE OF 38-YEARS.

SINCE TAKING OFFICE IN 1993, HE TURNED DOWN HIS ANTI-AMERICAN RHETORIC AND TRIED TO BRING GREECE'S AILING ECONOMY IN LINE WITH THE REST OF ITS EUROPEAN-UNION PARTNERS.

MR. PAPANDREOU'S DEATH CAME JUST AS HIS PARTY WAS DUE TO ELECT A VICE-PRESIDENT TO SUCCEED HIM. NOW, PASOK'S DECISION-MAKING EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS CALLED FOR AN URGENT MEETING TO MAP OUT THE FUTURE STATUS OF THE ORPHAN PARTY.

COMMENTATORS VOICE FEAR THE RACE TO SUCCEED MR. PAMPANDREOU MAY PROVE TO BE A TOUGH CONTEST BETWEEN SQUABBLING REFORMISTS AND OLD-GUARD PAPANDREOU LOYALISTS.

IN THE WORDS OF ONE ANALYST, THERE IS NO ONE WHO CAN RUN THE PARTY LIKE MR. PAPANDREOU DID, EVEN WHEN HE WAS ILL. (SIGNED)
NEB/AC/DW/RAE
23-Jun-96 10:43 AM EDT (1443 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] GREECE / PAPANDREOU (S) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVAS (ATHENS)

INTRO: GREEK SOCIALIST LEADER AND FORMER PRIME MINISTER ANDREAS PAPANDREOU HAS DIED OF HEART FAILURE. THE NEWS HAS STUNNED GREECE WHOSE PEOPLE CONSIDERED MR. PAPANDREOU THE COUNTRY'S MOST CHARISMATIC POLITICIAN THIS CENTURY. ANTHEE CARASSAVAS REPORTS FROM ATHENS.

TEXT: ANDREAS PAPANDREOU DIED IN HIS HOME AFTER SUFFERING AN ACUTE HEART ATTACK. HE WAS 77-YEARS OLD.

TELEVISION AND RADIO INTERRUPTED SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING TO BROADCAST THE NEWS AS SCORES OF DEVASTATED SOCIALIST SUPPORTERS FLOCKED OUTSIDE HIS RESIDENCE.

FOR YEARS MR. PAPANDREOU SUFFERED FROM HEART, BREATHING AND KIDNEY PROBLEMS. IN NOVEMBER, HE WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR FOUR MONTHS IN INTENSIVE CARE. HIS DETERIORATING HEALTH FORCED HIM TO STOP DOWN FROM THE PREMIERSHIP IN JANUARY.

A FORMER U-S CITIZEN AND HARVARD UNIVERSITY ECONOMICS PROFESSOR, MR. PAPANDREOU WAS VOTED GREECE'S FIRST-EVER SOCIALIST PRIME MINISTER IN 1981. HE WAS RE-ELECTED FOR A SECOND TERM AND SCORED A SMASHING COMEBACK TO POWER TWO YEARS AGO. (SIGNED)
NEB/AC/TMS-T/RAE
23-Jun-96 7:30 AM EDT (1130 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] PAPANDREOU OBIT (S ONLY) BY SUZANNA ANDERSON (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: HUNDREDS OF GREEKS HAVE CONVERGED ON THE ATHEN'S HOME OF THE LATE ANDREAS PAPANDREOU (SUNDAY) TO JOIN GOVERNMENT AND SOCIALIST OFFICIALS IN PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE MAN WHO CHANGED THE FACE OF GREEK POLITICS. V-O-A'S SUZANNA ANDERSON REPORTS (FROM WASHINGTON) ON THE GREEK LEADER WHO DIED SATURDAY AT THE AGE OF 77.

TEXT: ANDREAS PAPANDREOU DIED AT HIS ATHENS HOME OF HEART FAILURE SIX MONTHS AFTER RESIGNING AS PRIME MINISTER DUE TO ILL HEALTH.

THE CHARISMATIC AND OFTEN CONTROVERSIAL LEADER DOMINATED GREEK POLITICS FOR THREE DECADES. HE FOUNDED THE PANHELLENIC SOCIALIST MOVEMENT IN 1974 AND LED IT TO ELECTORAL VICTORY FIVE YEARS LATER. IN 1989, HE LOST AN ELECTION AMID AN ARRAY OF PERSONAL AND POLITICAL SCANDALS. DESCRIBED AS BOTH FIERY AND FLAMBOYANT, HE LEFT HIS WIFE OF 37 YEARS, FOR A FLIGHT ATTENDANT HALF HIS AGE.

BUT DESPITE THE SCANDALS AND ILL HEALTH, HE MADE A STUNNING RETURN IN 1993 BRINGING HIS SOCIALIST PARTY BACK TO POWER.

BORN ON FEBRUARY FIFTH 1919 INTO A PROMINENT GREEK FAMILY, MR. PAPANDREOU SPENT TWO DECADES IN THE UNITED STATES, BECOMING A U-S CITIZEN AND SERVING IN THE NAVY. HE HELD A HARVARD DEGREE IN ECONOMICS AND LATER WORKED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA.

HE RETURNED TO GREECE IN 1959 WITH HIS WIFE AND FOUR CHILDREN, RENOUNCED HIS U-S CITIZENSHIP AND FOUR YEARS LATER BEGAN HIS POLITICAL CAREER BECOMING A MINISTER IN THE GOVERNMENT OF HIS FATHER, GEORGE. (SIGNED)
NEB/SA/WJK
23-Jun-96 2:49 AM EDT (0649 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] ANDREAS PAPANDREOU OBIT BY CHRISTINE FURNELL (LONDON)

INTRO: FORMER GREEK PRIME MINISTER ANDREAS PAPANDREOU HAS DIED. DEATH CAME EARLY SUNDAY AT HIS HOME. HE WAS 77. THE GREEK LEADER HAD BEEN SUFFERING FROM BREATHING AND KIDNEY PROBLEMS AND WAS HOSPITALIZED LAST NOVEMBER WHEN HE WAS ADMITTED FOR TREATMENT OF PNEUMONIA. HE WAS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL IN MARCH BUT HAD NOT BEEN SEEN IN PUBLIC SINCE THAT TIME. MR. PAPANDREOU HEADED GREECE'S FIRST POST WORLD WAR TWO SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT. PREMIER COSTAS SIMITIS -- ELECTED BY THE SOCIALISTS TO LEAD THE PARTY IN JANUARY BECAUSE OF PAPANDREOU'S ILL HEALTH, WAS RETURNING TO ATHENS FROM A EUROPEAN UNION SUMMIT IN ITALY. VOA'S CHRISTINE FURNELL HAS A REPORT EXAMINING MR. PAPANDREOU,S POLITICAL CAREER.

TEXT: ANDREAS PAPANDREOU WAS ONE OF THE MOST STRIKING PERSONALITIES IN GREEK POLITICS OF THE POST WAR ERA. HIS SUPPORTERS WILL REMEMBER HIM AS A CUNNING POLITICIAN, WHILE HIS CRITICS LAMENT HIS OFTEN INCONSISTENT DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN POLICY.

IN HIS LATE SIXTIES HE LEFT HIS WIFE OF 37 YEARS FOR A 33-YEAR OLD AIRLINE STEWARDESS WHO HE CALLED THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE. DIMITRA LIANI-PAPANDREOU REMAINED AT HER HUSBAND'S SIDE THROUGHOUT HIS FINAL DAYS. MRS. PAPANDREOU'S OWN POLITICAL AMBITIONS HAD LED SENIOR PARTY MEMBERS TO QUESTION HIS ABILITY TO GOVERN EVEN BEFORE HIS ILLNESS, SAYING HE WAS AT THE MERCY OF HIS AMBITIOUS YOUNG WIFE.

A HARVARD EDUCATED ECONOMIST, MR. PAPANDREOU GAINED REAL PROMINENCE AS A MERCURIAL PRIME MINISTER OF GREECE. HE WAS SWEPT INTO OFFICE IN 1981 ON THE CREST OF A NATIONAL DESIRE FOR CHANGE AFTER FOUR DECADES OF RIGHTIST RULE. MR. PAPENDREAU WAS VOTED OUT OF OFFICE IN 1989 BUT RETURNED AGAIN IN 1993. IN THE ENSUING YEARS LITTLE WAS ALTERED AS DRASTICALLY AS MR. PAPANDREOU AND HIS PANHELLENIC SOCIALIST MOVEMENT PROMISED IN THOSE FIRST YEARS.

THE PANHELLINIC SOCIALIST MOVEMENT -- WHICH MR. PAPANDREOU HAD BEGUN AS A RESISTANCE GROUP DURING THE GREEK JUNTA PERIOD IN THE 1960'S AND 1970'S -- RODE INTO POWER WITH A BROAD AGENDA FOR CHANGE. THIS INCLUDED WITHDRAWAL FROM THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION'S MILITARY WING, WITHDRAWAL FROM THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, DISMANTLING THE FOUR AMERICAN MILITARY BASES ON GREEK SOIL, AND PUTTING MOST OF GREEK INDUSTRY UNDER STATE CONTROL AND OWNERSHIP.

MR. PAPANDREOU SAID EARLY ON THAT HE HOPED THAT WITH A SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT IN FRANCE AND ANOTHER IN GREECE THEY WOULD CHANGE THE FACE OF EUROPE. LITTLE, HOWEVER, DID IN FACT CHANGE IN TANGIBLE TERMS. BUT ATTITUDES DID.

GREECE NEVER DID WITHDRAW FROM THE NATO GROUP, BUT BECAUSE OF RECURRENT OBJECTIONS TO MR. PAPANDREOU'S PERCEPTION THAT NATO PREFERRED TURKEY, GREECE'S OLD RIVAL, GREECE BECAME KNOWN AS SOMETHING OF THE ODD MAN OUT IN NATO.

ON THE ECONOMIC FRONT, AFTER INITIAL MINCING STEPS TOWARD MORE STATE CONTROL, CAPITALISM REGAINED FULL PLAY, AND THE GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY IMPROVED A FEW IMPORTANT ECONOMIC INDICATORS AFTER A MUCH NEEDED ECONOMIC AUSTERITY PROGRAM IN THE MID-1980'S.

ALTHOUGH MR. PAPANDREOU'S POPULAR MANDATE DECREASED IN EACH SUCCESSIVE ELECTION, HE WAS ALWAYS VERY MUCH IN THE CONTROLLING SEAT. HIS PERSONAL CHARISMA HELD HIM THERE. IN GREECE, ANDREAS PAPANDREOU WILL BE A HARD MAN TO FORGET. (SIGNED) NEB/CF/MH/SD/GPT/SD
22-Jun-96 11:18 PM EDT (0318 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] BOSNIA/KARADZIC (S) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: THE BOSNIAN-SERB PRESIDENT RADOVAN KARADZIC, WHO HAS BEEN INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES, IS REPORTEDLY LEAVING OFFICE. SENIOR BOSNIAN-SERB OFFICIALS SAY HE WILL BE REPLACED AS PRESIDENT BY THE BOSNIAN-SERB FOREIGN MINISTER LATER THIS WEEK. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: RADOVAN KARADZIC IS EXPECTED TO RESIGN THE PRESIDENCY WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, BUT HE WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE AS LEADER OF THE RULING NATIONALIST SERB DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

SERB OFFICIALS ALSO SAY MR. KARADZIC WILL NOT HEAD HIS PARTY'S LIST OF CANDIDATES FOR BOSNIA-WIDE ELECTIONS EXPECTED TO BE HELD IN SEPTEMBER.

THE DECISION WAS APPARENTLY TAKEN AT A PARTY LEADERSHIP CAUCUS CALLED FRIDAY TO ADDRESS DEMANDS FOR MR. KARADZIC'S RESIGNATION FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND SERBIA'S PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.

MR. KARADZIC HAS BEEN INDICTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL, AND HIS REMOVAL FROM OFFICE HAS BEEN A KEY DEMAND OF SENIOR INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS OVERSEEING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

MR. KARADZIC WILL REPORTEDLY BE REPLACED AS PRESIDENT BY ANOTHER SERB HARDLINER, FOREIGN MINISTER ALEXANDER BUHA. MR. BUHA IS A KARADZIC LOYALIST AND ONE OF FOUR LEADING SERB POLITICAL FIGURES IN MR. KARADZIC'S INNER CIRCLE. (SIGNED)
NEB/DF/DW/RAE
23-Jun-96 7:52 AM EDT (1152 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] BOSNIA/KARADZIC (L) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: THE BOSNIAN-SERB PRESIDENT RADOVAN KARADZIC, WHO HAS BEEN INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES, IS REPORTEDLY LEAVING OFFICE. SENIOR BOSNIAN-SERB OFFICIALS SAY HE WILL BE REPLACED AS PRESIDENT BY THE BOSNIAN-SERB FOREIGN MINISTER LATER THIS WEEK. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: RADOVAN KARADZIC IS EXPECTED TO RESIGN THE PRESIDENCY WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, BUT HE WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE AS LEADER OF THE RULING NATIONALIST SERB DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

SERB OFFICIALS ALSO SAY MR. KARADZIC WILL NOT HEAD HIS PARTY'S LIST OF CANDIDATES FOR COUNTRY-WIDE ELECTIONS EXPECTED TO BE HELD IN SEPTEMBER. THURSDAY, A GROUP OF LOCAL PARTY OFFICIALS IN THE BOSNIAN-SERB HEADQUARTERS IN PALE NOMINATED MR. KARADZIC TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT AS LEADER OF HIS PARTY. THE DECISION PROVOKED OUTRAGE AMONG THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND LED TO STRONG PROTESTS FROM THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS.

THE DECISION BY MR. KARADZIC TO STEP DOWN AS PRESIDENT WAS APPARENTLY TAKEN AT A PARTY LEADERSHIP CAUCUS CALLED FRIDAY TO ADDRESS THE RENEWED DEMANDS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND SERBIA'S PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC FOR MR. KARADZIC'S REMOVAL.

MR. KARADZIC HAS BEEN INDICTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL AND HIS REMOVAL FROM OFFICE HAS BEEN A KEY DEMAND OF SENIOR INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS WHOSE JOB IS OVERSEEING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT.

THE RESIGNATION IS CERTAIN TO WEAKEN MR. KARADZIC'S AUTHORITY, AND OTHER BOSNIAN-SERB POLITICAL FIGURES WILL GROW STRONGER. BY CONTINUING AS LEADER OF THE RULING NATIONALIST PARTY, MR. KARADZIC WILL STILL EXERCISE CONSIDERABLE CONTROL OVER GOVERNMENT POLICY.

MR. KARADZIC WILL REPORTEDLY BE REPLACED AS PRESIDENT BY ANOTHER SERB HARDLINER, FOREIGN MINISTER ALEXANDER BUHA. MR. BUHA IS A KARADZIC LOYALIST AND ONE OF FOUR LEADING SERB POLITICAL FIGURES IN THE KARADZIC INNER CIRCLE.

EVEN IF THE CHANGE OF PRESIDENTS GOES AHEAD, THE BOSNIAN SERBS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THEIR OBSTRUCTION OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT. THERE IS NO SIGN MR. KARADZIC WILL BE HANDED OVER TO THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. MR. KARADZIC STILL HAS STRONG SUPPORT AMONG MOST OF HIS PEOPLE, AND THERE IS NO SIGN NATO TROOPS IN BOSNIA WILL MAKE ANY MOVE TO ARREST HIM. (SIGNED)
NEB/DF/DW
23-Jun-96 10:26 AM EDT (1426 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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