Greek PM to miss EU summit due to eye surgery

Athens (Greece), June 24 (Xinhua-ANI): Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras will not attend the forthcoming critical EU summit in Brussels on June 28, as doctors advised him against air travel following an urgent eye surgery he underwent on Saturday.

According to doctors by an Athens hospital, high altitude pressure could endanger the Premier's eyesight following his right- eye retina detachment.

Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos will represent Greece at the summit, according to a Greek government spokesman announcement.

Outgoing Finance Minister Yorgos Zannias, Alternate Finance Minister Christos Staikouras and Development Minister Costis Hatzidakis will accompany Avramopoulos.

Incoming Finance Minister Vassilis Rapanos will also miss the summit, since he is still hospitalized following a faint episode and stomach disorder on Friday.

Conservative New Democracy party leader Samaras heads a three-party pro-bailout coalition government which was formed on Thursday following June 17 general elections.

The new government' primary goal is to renegotiate aspects of the bailout agreements with international creditors and keep debt-laden Greece within the euro zone.

According to NET Greek state television, the EU/IMF delegation of auditors' visit to Athens initially scheduled for Monday has been postponed for a week due to Samaras' and Rapanos' health conditions. (Xinhua-ANI)