[01] GREEK PRIME MINISTER REMAINS IN HOSPITAL FOR 24 DAYS

[02] 1996 BUDGET WILL BE SUCCESSFUL SAYS THE GOVERNMENT

[03] GREEK-ALBANIAN DEFENCE AGREEMENT SIGNED IN ATHENS TODAY

[04] EU-TURKEY CUSTOMS UNION APPROVED OF BY THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

[05] COOPERATION AGREEMENTS WERE SIGNED BY GREECE AND RUSSIA

[06] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER TO ATTEND SIGNING OF AGREEMENT ON BOSNIA

[07] NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CYPRUS REJECTED DOCUMENT DELIVERED BY THE US

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[01] GREEK PRIME MINISTER REMAINS IN HOSPITAL FOR 24 DAYS

Greek Prime Minister mr Andreas Papandreou's general medical condition remained unchanged today after mr Papandreou has completed a 24-day stay in the Onasion Cardiology Centre.

In the second bulletin of the day, issued at 20:00 hours today, the medical board observing the greek prime minister noted that his renal functioning is still supported by artificial kidney while they say that his respiration is not supported and that there are no implications concerning his heart.

The doctors stress that the functioning of mr Papandreou's heart has been the same since he was submitted to an open heart operation by the famous egyptian surgeon dr Magdi Yacub which was held in the London Hospital of Heartfield in 1988.

A spokesman for the board said that he did not know so he could not confirm information concerning disagreements of the doctors on the condition of mr Papandreou's heart and added that teh virus which had caused the infection which appeared on Monday has been located.

According to the first medical bulletin of the day which had been issued at 14:00 pm today, during the past 24 hours the patient had breathed without the support of the respirator while his renal functioning mentioned as supported by dialysis treatment.

Reliable information mentioned that the Prime Minister had a very quiet night last night and slept without the use of sedatives.

Mr Papandreou was admitted to the Onassion Cardiology Centre, one of the best equipped in Europe, on November 20th suffering from a form of pneumonia and has been under the attendance of a medical board consisting of 15 professors of medicine.

Mr Papandreou, 77 next February, is married to ms Demetra Liani Papandreou who is alos serving as the director of his personal bureau and has four children from a previous marriage. One of them is the Minister of Education mr Giorgos Papandreou who today contradicted that it will be him who will ask his father on behalf of the party that he resign.

[02] 1996 BUDGET WILL BE SUCCESSFUL SAYS THE GOVERNMENT

The governmental conviction that the 1996 budget will be successful and help the development of the country, said today Minister of Interior Affairs, Public Administration and Decentralization mr Akis Tsohadjopoulos who as the first in order minister has been subsituting according to the greek law of government Prime Minister mr Andreas Papandreou since he was admitted to hospital, on November 20th.

The statement by Mr Tsohadjopoulos was made after the session of the Economic Committee of the government which examined the final details before the debate on the parliament due to start on December 19th.

Mr Tsohadjopoulos, who is one of the vice- presidents of the European Socialistic Party will head the greek deligation in the European Union Summit, due at the weekend in Madrid while he will also take part in the summit of the leaders of the European Socialistic Party which will take place in the Spanish capital tomorrow.

[03] GREEK-ALBANIAN DEFENCE AGREEMENT SIGNED IN ATHENS TODAY

A defence agreement protocol was signed today in Athens by Greece and Albania. The protocol is a follow up of the defence agreements signed in 1992 by the Defence Ministries of the two countries and was signed by the Chiefs of the National Defence General Staffs, greek admiral Christos Limberis and albanian Lieutenant- General, Seme Kusova.

The agreement concerns the sectors of medical officers training and military aid. The albanian Chief of National Defence General Staff expressed optimism for the further cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries pointing out that the albanian army is at the first phase of its reorganization and cooperates with armed forces of NATO members-states, such as Greece.

Lieutenant-General, Seme Kusova also expressed the certainty that this time the protocol will materialize because as he said both sides now are dealing seriously with those issues.

The albanian high ranking official also met with Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis and with Undersecretary of Defence mr.Kouris. Albanian Defence Minister Safet Zulali is expected to make an official visit to Greece in early 1996.

[04] EU-TURKEY CUSTOMS UNION APPROVED OF BY THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

The European Parliament approved with smaller than expected majority of the agreement on the customs union between the EU and Turkey which was signed by the European Council on March 6th and will be put into effect on January 1st, 1996.

343 out of the 528 Euro-deputies who were present at the voting voted for the agreement while 149, among which most greek and socialists voted against it and 36 abstained.

Mr Michalis Papagiannakis, of the European United Left absented saying tha he is for the customs union but wanted to note that human roghts in Turkey are not well protected.

The European Parliament also approved of two other resolutions, one concerning the financial aid to Turkey while the other one is characterized as an "offset" to the human rights situation in the country underlining the necessity of reforms that will safeguard the respect of human rights and promote the country's democratization process.

[05] COOPERATION AGREEMENTS WERE SIGNED BY GREECE AND RUSSIA

Greek Foreign Minister mr Carolos Papoulias and russian alternate Foreign Minister responsible for Balkan issues Sergei Krilov, who is on a two-day visit to Greece, signed the renewal of Greek-Russian cooperation agreements.

Mr.Papoulias stated that the presence of the russian official, the agreement signed today, as well as the one that will be signed tomorrow concerning bilateral cooperation on education issues, prove there is a dynamic development in the greek-russian relations. The greek Minister added that Greece gives great importance to its relations with Russia reminding the cooperation between the Greek and Russian governments during the Balkan crisis.

Mr.Papoulias said that the two countries contributed to the progress of the peace process backing the peaceful settlement of the Bosnian crisis through negotiations adding that the Dayton peace agreement proves the necessity of such a solution. The greek Foreign Minister also stated that Greece and Russia will cooperate for the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement and the reconstruction of Bosnia- Herzegovina.

Responding to a question by a reporter, mr.Papoulias said that in the meeting was also discussed the issue of the oil pipe-line linking Greece with Russia. Mr.Papoulias said that the issue is still in progress and soon a tripartite cooperation protocol will be signed by Russia, Bulgaria and Greece for the materialization of the project.

The russian alternate Foreign Minister stated that the relations between the two countries are at a very good level and there is potential for further development in all sectors.

The greek Foreign Minister stated that the talks with the russian alternate Foreign Minister mainly dealt with the Cyprus problem and mr.Papoulias especially praised Russia's interest in the solution for the problem, stressing that Greece regards Russia as an important factor that has the power to contribute positively to the solution of the Cyprus problem.

The two sides also agreed to have continuous contacts and cooperation in the next weeks and months, which will be a period of great importance for the Cyprus problem.

[06] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER TO ATTEND SIGNING OF AGREEMENT ON BOSNIA

Greek Foreign Minister mr Carolos Papoulias left at noon today for Paris to attend the formal signing ceremony of the Dayton peace agreement for Bosnia that will be held in the french capital tomorrow.

The EU Foreign Ministers will meet this afternoon to discuss issues concerning the process aiming at the stability and good neighbourly relations in south- eastern Europe. In the meeting will participate Cyprus, former Yugoslav Republics, FYROM included, and other countries.

Mr.Papoulias will leave Paris tomorrow afternoon for Madrid where on Friday and Saturday will be held the EU Summit meeting.

Greek government spokesman Tilemachos Hitiris commenting on the greek presence in the peace process in Bosnia gave the assurance that Greece will be present in the reconstruction of Bosnia clarifying that Greece is represented by ambassador mr.Zepos in the Committee chaired by EU mediator mr.Bilt.

[07] NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CYPRUS REJECTED DOCUMENT DELIVERED BY THE US

The National Council of Cyprus unanimously rejected during today's meeting the second document presented last Friday to Cypriot President Kliridis by US Ambassador in Nicosia mr.Bautcher.

The document mentioned that the turkish-cypriot side accepts the membership of the confederate Cyprus in the European Union under the precondition that the sovereignty and the political equality of the turkish- cypriots will be recognized. The National Council will meet again on December 23rd.