The news in Greek
Στην Αθήνα, η βρύση στην Πλατεία Συντάγματος είναι σε κακή κατάσταση. Ο Δήμος της Αθήνας και το Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού διαφωνούν για το ποιος έχει ευθύνη για τη συντήρησή της. Ο Δήμος λέει ότι αναμένει από το Υπουργείο απαντήσεις , ενώ το Υπουργείο θεωρεί ότι η ευθύνη είναι του Δήμου. Οι κάτοικοι είναι δυσαρεστημένοι με την κατάσταση.
Translation
In Athens, the fountain in Syntagma Square is in poor condition. The Municipality of Athens and the Ministry of Culture disagree over who is responsible for its maintenance. The Municipality states it is waiting for responses from the Ministry, while the Ministry believes the responsibility lies with the Municipality. Residents are unhappy with the situation.
Exercise: Text comprehension
Question 1: Where is the fountain that is in poor condition located?
The fountain is located in Syntagma Square in Athens.
Question 2: Who are the two parties disagreeing over who is responsible for the fountain's maintenance?
The Athens Municipality and the Culture Ministry are disagreeing.
Exercise: Vocabulary
Read the full story
▌22/11/2024
The iconic Syntagma Square fountain in Athens has become the focal point of a dispute between the Municipality of Athens and the Greek Ministry of Culture. This standoff revolves around the responsibility for the maintenance and cleaning of the fountain, which has remained in a state of neglect, drawing criticism from the public.
The Municipality of Athens released a statement claiming that since April, its Electrical Services Department had contacted the Ministry's Directorate for the Conservation of Ancient and Modern Monuments. The department intended to initiate cleaning and maintenance operations for the fountain, which has been designated a protected monument.
Municipal authorities sought direction, understanding that such efforts fall under the Ministry’s jurisdiction. Following a series of unanswered communications, the municipality was informed in May that the Ministry was responsible for the task. However, in June, the Municipal Directorate was advised that a maintenance study was necessary to address the fountain's issues.
Athens Fountain Debate: Municipality vs. Culture Ministry (Illustration)
Despite efforts to follow up in August and again in November, the municipality was only updated that the study was "in progress" but delayed due to "existing obligations." The officials hoped it would be completed by December.
In response to criticism, the Ministry of Culture issued its own statement, asserting that the upkeep of the fountain, including the development and execution of necessary studies, is the responsibility of the Municipality of Athens. The ministry noted that although they exceeded their obligations by commencing the study, the onus remained on the municipal authorities to ensure the fountain's proper condition.
The Ministry explained that the fountain faces typical challenges posed by urban environments, such as vandalism and inappropriate historical repairs. It emphasized that these issues could be resolved once the current study, prepared amid a heavy workload, is completed. Scheduled to be reviewed by the Central Council of Modern Monuments, the study's approval is expected later this month.
Passersby have expressed growing frustration over the fountain's unsanitary state, with many urging the Municipality of Athens to act. The recent developments underline the complexities of maintaining historical monuments, highlighting the need for clear communication and delineation of responsibilities between different government bodies. With both entities pointing fingers, there’s a pressing need for cooperative resolution to preserve this historical feature of the city.
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