Goethe Institute

Few passers-by rushing along Panepistimiou Street in downtown Athens know that at one time, the old Mavrokefalos Casino at No 64 wasn't just somewhere punters headed when they were feeling lucky but also a meeting place for high-ranking German occupation officers with their Greek collaborators during the Second World War.

As part of the "Idiopolis" exhibition at the State of Concept gallery, which ended on January 14, the Frontviews association presents video art created by some of the participants in the group show, at the Goethe Institute on Thursday, January 19, starting at 8 p.m.

A gathering of solidarity will be held Wednesday in Athens in the wake of the Berlin truck terror attack.

The event, which is being organized via social media, will be held outside the Goethe Institute (14-16 Omirou), at 7 p.m.

The Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art (MMST) presents a new exhibition that turns the spotlight on one of the most savage chapters in modern human history with "Fractured Memories 1940-1950," organized by the Goethe Institute in cooperation with the Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki and the Deutsches Historisches Museum in Berlin.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier is due in Greece for a two-day visit on Sunday and Monday, where among other engagements, he will inaugurate an exhibition in Thessaloniki.

On Sunday, Steinmeier will be welcomed by Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos at 5.30 p.m. in Athens and then hold an official meeting with his Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias.

Upon an invitation from the Goethe Institute, I recently attended a conference focusing on the relations between the German Foreign Ministry and various foundations. 

While the foundations are keen to underline their sensitivity over their independence and their wish to not be told what to do by the state, the two sides agree nevertheless on the need to have a dialogue.

Justice Minister Nikos Paraskevopoulos said that the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) government has no intention of seizing the Goethe Institute. He made this statement on Thursday during a meeting with representatives of the relatives of victims of Nazi atrocities committed in the town of Distomo during WWII.

Justice Minister Nikos Paraskevopoulos denied on Tuesday the government was planning to seize German assets as compensation for a Nazi atrocities during World War II.

?No Greek citizen would want the confiscation of a historic educational/cultural institute like the Goethe [Institute in Athens],? Paraskevopoulos said in a statement.

 Highlights of Angela Merkel's statements at a joint press conference afterwards the face-to-face talks:

Merkel

- There are difficult issues, in which we have completely different thoughts and views.

- The Greek government will tell us how much longer it wants to continue the cooperation with the Task Force.

BELGRADE - The 16th edition of the International Festival of Archaeological Film will feature the screening of 22 films from 10 countries at the Gallery of Frescoes in Belgrade on March 19-25.

This year, the guest of honor is Iran, which will present its rich archaeological heritage with a film about the splendor of Persepolis, the organizers said in a release.