Former Greek Premier Costas Simitis dead at 88

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) – Former Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis has died at age 88, local media reported on Sunday morning.

Simitis died at his summer house in the southwestern town of Agioi Theodoroi, likely in his sleep, said a public broadcaster, citing local health and emergency services sources.

But in line with protocol, an autopsy will be performed in Athens, it added.

Simitis, one of the founders of the social democratic PASOK party, one of the major parties that emerged after the toppling of Greece’s military junta in 1974, served as minister of agriculture, national economy, education, and industry in various cabinets.

In 1996, he took over leadership of PASOK and ruled the country as premier until 2004.

His tenure saw a rapprochement in Turkish-Greek relations following the Kardak (Imia) crisis in January 1996 that brought the two NATO allies to the brink of an armed conflict.