This has become clear after the meeting of social partners with Minister of Labour and Social Security Yiannis Vroutsis. While the negotiations between the trade unions, the government and the employers were running, city council and municipal workers gathered to protest against the cuts in the budgets of local government organizations.

Stavros Niarchos Foundation has bought the trophy of the first Olympic marathon race winner at an auction at Christie's. The Cup will be staying at the Acropolis Museum for one year and will then tour various Greek cities, until it takes its permanent place in the future cultural centre of the Foundation.

While Credit Agricole is playing with the nerves of the three major Greek banks in connection with the sale of Emporiki Bank, Societe Generale is about to reach an agreement with the fourth largest bank for the sale of Geniki.

Fires in Greece continue, the largest outbreaks being on the islands of Rhodes, Hydra, Zakynthos, and Crete near Chania. A fire in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has crossed the border and spread to Florina.