Greece declares 4 days of national mourning for former premier

ISTANBUL

Greece has declared four days of national mourning following the passing of former Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

The Greek government will also hold a state funeral to honor Simitis's legacy, the Kathimerini daily reported Sunday.

Simitis died Sunday morning at his vacation home in Agioi Theodoroi, Peloponnese at the age of 88.

He was a founding member of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), one of the major parties that emerged after the toppling of Greece’s military junta in 1974, and served as minister of agriculture, national economy, education, and industry in various Cabinets.

In 1996, he took over the leadership of PASOK and served as prime minister 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.