Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-01-14

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Karamanlis departs for 3-day visit SE Europe countries

[02] Papandreou addresses supporters in Veria

[03] Oscar-winning art director Fotopoulos dies

[01] Karamanlis departs for 3-day visit SE Europe countries

Both men will meet on Monday morning for talks, followed by the Greek premier's meeting with Croatian President Stjepan Mesic.

At noon, Karamanlis will attend a panegyric session of Croatia's Cabinet on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the country's independence.

Shortly afterwards, he will depart for Ljubljana, where he will be greeted by Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa at Bled Castle.

At 2:00 p.m., Karamanlis will attend a luncheon hosted by the Slovenian prime minister in honour of the heads of state and government attending a ceremony for Slovenia's accession to the Euro-zone. He will later depart for the Cankarjev Dom Cultural and Conference Centre, where the ceremony will take place.

On Monday evening, Karamanlis will attend a working dinner with Slovenian Premier Jansa.

Finally, on Tuesday morning, the Greek prime minister will depart for Belgrade, where he will have meetings with Serbian President Boris Tadic and with Serbian Prime Minister Voijslav Kostunica.

[02] Papandreou addresses supporters in Veria

Papandreou, who will also visit the town of Naoussa on Monday, said a rocket attack on the US embassy in Athens early Friday morning -- which caused minor material damage but no injuries -- had revealed ruling New Democracy party's (ND) perception, namely, that "the state belongs to ND, to serve its own children," adding, however, that "there are no 'their children' and 'our children', all the citizens must be equal before the law".

The PASOK leader stressed that New Democracy, whereas Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis had immense blame regarding the lack of counter-terrorism protection, while he also accused the government of dealing only with the facilitation of petty political expediencies, its voters, and business interests.

The ND government, he charged, broke up a series of social services, such as the all-day school, help at home, and other social solidarity programmes.

Gov't reaction

In a later reaction to Papandreou's statements, alternate government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros merely noted that "Mr. Papandreou, yet again today (Sunday), exhausted himself on the altar of irresponsible demagoguery. In every instance, it is ineffectual to blame others for perceptions, attitudes and practices that in people's minds are identified with his party."

[03] Oscar-winning art director Fotopoulos dies

Fotopoulos was born in Kalamata in 1934 and worked as a stage designer in productions at the National Opera House (Lyriki Skini), the National Theatre, and the State Theatre of Northern Greece, as well as in Europe and the United States.

His work was characterised by a "semiological" approach, and what initially set him apart from other art directors was the way he could perceive the undercurrents and subtleties of a script and transfer them to his sets, essentially creating a set from zero.

Besides his work in "Zorba, the Greek", which won three Academy Awards, he had also created 75 sets for Elia Kazan's acclaimed 1963 film "America, America". His name was removed from the film's credits, and when Fotopoulos asked why, Kazan replied: "But who would believe that these scenes were made by a Greek boy?"

"America, America" received the Oscar for Art Direction, which went to Gene Callahan (the man who signed the work of the "unknown Greek").

Acclaim, however, came for Fotopoulos with the Oscar he received in 1964.

In 1966 he collaborated with Frances Ford Coppola as the art director in the film "You're a Big Boy Now", the first breakthrough for the noted Italian-American director.

Caption: A photo of late art director Fotopoulos. ANA-MPA / STR

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article