Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-07-17

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Athens Festival: 'Prometheus in Athens' by Rimini Protokoll

[02] Forest fires

[03] FinMin, bankers meet

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] Athens Festival: 'Prometheus in Athens' by Rimini Protokoll

Dissolving the boundaries between reality and myth, the pioneering documentary theater group Rimini Protokoll explores here the effects ancient tragedy has on contemporary life: Who identifies with Prometheus and who with Io? Who with Hermes and who with Oceanus?

One hundred Athenians, representing Athens in statistical terms of age, sex, district and nationality, declare their similarities to - and differences from - the tragic heroes on stage. Prometheus is only the beginning. From him spring 100 Athenian voices, each representing 40,000 Athenians, turning Aeschylus� "Prometheus" into a source of questions and revealing unheard statistical facts on stage.

"Rimini Protokoll show people who have experiences with the disposition to durable sufferings; who see themselves as well in a situation of uncompromising insurgency; people who understand their jobs as a continuation of the "promethean effort" to improve the human future; those who execute uneasily but consequently the power of the state; those who are on the run; those who think to have broken a law for the sake of others; and people who perceive god as a more important legislator than civic society," according to the group itself.

"Prometheus in Athens", a contribution by Helgard Haug and Daniel Wetzel to the 'Promethiade' at the Athens Festival this year, "can only take place in Athens: In the center of the city, a stone's throw away from the center of the Athenian theater-democracy, for which the 'Prometheus'-trilogy was once written," the directors say.

(Photo: ANA-MPA/H. Bilios)

[02] Forest fires

The Lavrio fire was burning at Punta Zeza, towards Sounion, near the agriculture ministry children�s summer camp, which has not been evacuated, though, as it is not threatened by the blaze, while traffic has been halted at the 54th kilometer of the Athens-Sounio motorway.

There are scattered houses in the area, but the Fire Brigade told ANA-MPA that the homes are not at threat from the fire at this time.

A strong ground force of firefighters with fire engines is battling the blaze, assisted by four water-dropping airplanes and two helicopters.

In a later statement, the Fire Brigade reported that the Lavrio fire has been broken up into small fronts.

The second and more difficult fire, which broke out in a pine forest in the Mikrochori area of Kalamos, was quickly fanned by high winds.

A strong force of more than 90 firefighters on the ground, with 27 fire engines and assisted by eight water-dropping planes and two helicopters, two regiments on foot and approximately a dozen water trucks from surrounding municipalities are racing against time to prevent the fire from spreading to the nearby Varnava Forest.

The fire is currently blazing in a ravine between Mikrochori and Varnava.

Traffic in the area is being diverted.

[03] FinMin, bankers meet

Additionally, they discussed the procedure to be followed after Piraeus Bank's proposal on Thursday to acquire state-run ATEbank (the former Agricultural Bank) and Hellenic Postbank. (ANA-MPA)

Earlier in the day, Papaconstantinou met with ATEbank president Theodore Pantalakis. During the meeting, Pantalakis briefed the minister on the bank's course, (ANA-MPA) while the government said it was still considering a response to Piraeus Bank's 701-million-euro bid.

Ministry officials said ATEbank's president told the minister that the "government should reply gently without hurting anyone's feelings, since the banking system is very delicate".

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

Developments in the banking sector following Piraeus Bank's proposal to acquire the state's major holdings in ATEbank and TT-Hellenic Postbank, and the IMF (International Monetary Fund) interim report on the Greek economy were the main front-page items in Athens' dailies on Saturday.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "The banking landscape changing - Flurry of finance minister George Papaconstantinou's contacts with bankers".

APOGEVMATINI: "The banking sector a big chessboard - Sallas' (Piraeus Bank chairman) proposal for the acquisition of two state banks opens up a game for strong players".

AVRIANI: "IMF ultimatum to government on problematic DEKO (public utilities and organisations), deficit-posting social security funds, hospitals and municipalities".

AVGHI: "Governmental backdown on Piraeus Bank proposal after storm of protests".

ELEFTHEROS: "Left-wing faction of ruling PASOK threatens Papaconstantinou (finance minister) and Provopoulos (Bank of Greece governor) with special court of Sallas (Piraeus Bank) proposal (for acquisition of ATEbank and TT-Postbank) goes through".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Government objections on Sallas proposal".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Retirement for women: When, how".

ESTIA: "Scandalous loans to political parties totaling 242.2 million euros".

ETHNOS: "Black hole in teachers' appointments - Fear of major shortages in (public) schools in September".

IMERISSIA: "Vigilance in the economy - Light of hope in the fog of recession and unemployment - Optimistic messages from three fronts".

KATHIMERINI: "Unrest and objections in PASOK, ND (main opposition New Democracy) after Piraeus Bank bid for ATEbank, TT-Postbank".

NAFTEMPORIKI: "Sallas proposal receives positively received - The market awaiting the next moves".

NIKI: "All the base entry grades in AEI and TEI (Universities and Technical Colleges)".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Battle for branch labor agreements that satisfy the workers' needs".

TA NEA: "The new social security system in the public sector".

TO VIMA: "Everything open in bank 'marriages' - Government wavering between mergers and buy-outs".

VRADYNI: "Sale, or one state super-bank?"

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