Mourners are lining the street outside Athens’ central cathedral for the state funeral for former Prime Minister Costas Simitis, the architect of Greece’s joining the European Union’s common currency who died Sunday at the age of 88. Simitis will be buried with the honors of a sitting prime minister, with a funeral service before his burial in Athens’ First Cemetery. It's the resting place of numerous notable Greeks, including politicians, musicians and artists. A committed pro-European, Simitis served as prime minister from January 1996 to March 2004 and holds the record for longevity for a Greek administration. His tenure was also noted for Athens being awarded the 2004 Olympics, an extensive infrastructure-building program and helping Cyprus join the EU in 2004.
