Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-08-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] Yugoslavia wins World Basketball Championship in Athens

[02] Greek ambassador tours Albanian regions

[03] Lesvos-Imvros direct ferry link

[04] Lower prices as of today for certain foodstuffs

[05] Fires extinguished in Kavala, Thassos

[06] Flying priest undertakes mission to protect woodlands

[07] British woman killed while para-sailing

[08] Council of State ruling on enclosure

[01] Yugoslavia wins World Basketball Championship in Athens

Athens, 10/8/1998 (ANA)

The Yugoslavs, winners in 1990, regained the World Basketball Championship in a tense, closely fought final played out to a near capacity crowd of around 18,000 at the Athens Olympic indoor stadium.

Russia had led 35-30 at half time but Yugoslavia took a critical 57-56 lead with a minute left.

Zeljko Rebraca top scored for the winners on 16 points followed by Dejan Bodiroga with 11. Russia's best marksmen were Sergei Panov and Igor Koudelin, who both ended on 14.

Earlier, the United States took the bronze medal, by easily defeating Greece 84-61.

The non-NBA American team, comprising professional players in Europe and from the minor league CBA, led comfortably by 13 points midway through the first half and never looked back.

Simitis: Prime Minister Costas Simitis sent a telegramme congratulating the Greek national basketball team for its success in coming fourth in the world.

The telegramme noted "I congratulate you for the successful course in the 13th World Basketball Championship. Your performance, your methodical system and your fighting spirit, your tempo and your organising have placed you in the four best teams in the world."

Karamanlis: Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis said "the taking of fourth place in the World Basketball Championship by the national team is yet another brilliant success, which fills us with pride. Congratulations to the players, the coach as well as all the staff of the Greek Basketball Federation."

Burns: US ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns, who watched the match, said that "Greeks should feel proud that their national team took fourth place."

Mr. Burns noted that the organisation of the World Basketball Championship in Athens was very good, while he added that the fans created a very warm atmosphere.

He congratulated the Greek team for reaching this level of success and also the US team for managing to achieve so much with so little preparation.

Athens News Agency

[02] Greek ambassador tours Albanian regions

Athens, 10/8/1998 (ANA)

The Greek ambassador, who is on a two-day tour of Gjirokaster and Sarande regions, called on the Greek minority to work for the restructuring of Albania and to become a bridge between the peoples of the two countries.

Mr. Prevedourakis also noted that Greece is a basic partner of Albania in the latter's efforts to reach Europe, a precondition of stability in the region.

He added that in this framework, Greece has sent humanitarian aid to the tune of US$ 200,000, during the visit of Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos.

Athens News Agency

[03] Lesvos-Imvros direct ferry link

Athens, 10/8/1998 (ANA)

He added that this first connection of the two islands will coincide with the withdrawl of the Greek forces by the islands of Imvros and Tenedos 75 years ago.

Although, both islands were inhabited by Greek populations, they were the only two of the Aegean given to Turkey by the Treaty of Lausanne, establishing the borders between Greece and Turkey.

The prefect noted that the ferry line will be experimental in the beginning, so as to work out all the possible problems, such as port facility needs and port of entry points and infrastructure.

He added that this line was a long time request of expatriate Imvrians, who will be brought closer to their ancestral land.

Finally, he noted that in its maiden voyage the ferry will transport a Turkish delegation of local administration officials to Lesvos, for talks in efforts to create the preconditions for the long term establishment of the line.

Athens News Agency

[04] Lower prices as of today for certain foodstuffs

Athens, 10/8/1998 (ANA)

The range of products affected includes pasta, rice, and legumes.

Further reductions are in the pipeline for more foodstuffs and car and motorbike spare parts.

Athens News Agency

[05] Fires extinguished in Kavala, Thassos

Athens, 10/8/1998 (ANA)

Fire department officials noted that the fire, which burned 250 hectares was caused by arsonists, who might be digging for gold in the area.

Furthermore, they noted that two smaller fires, which began at landfills at the island of Thassos were quickly extinguished.

Meanwhile, the fire at Sklivani, Ioannina is still in progress, having destroyed large portions of forested land, while 15 firefighters with five- engines are fighting to bring the fire under control.

In a separate fire at Agios Syllas, Messolongi, firefighters were working to extinguish the fire in hard to reach areas.

Finally, according to authorities, most other fires around the country are under control or extinguished, but fire department personnel will be on patrol through the summer to avert further fires.

Igoumenitsa police arrest Frenchman for arson: A French national was arrested for arson after an eye witness reported seeing him start a fire, in the northwestern prefecture of Thesprotia on Friday.

Igoumenitsa police arrested tourist Alain de Fremont, 48, a real estate agent from Paris, after he was reported starting a fire in the forested area of Zavia, near the seaside resort of Syvota. The fire was quickly extinguished by the Igoumenitsa Fire B rigade and local residents.

De Fremont was arrested at 8.30 am after a brief pursuit, about 25 kilometres away from Zavia, in the company of his wife. The police said that although the Frenchman admitted to the arson, he was unable to explain his motives. He is being investigated in connection with other forest fires on the island of Corfu, where he was the previous days.

Forest fires are burning mostly out of control throughout Greece, fuelled by a heatwave and strong winds. On Thursday a man was killed in a forest fire, in the outer Athenian suburb of Penteli. Several houses and shops were destroyed, in what the author ities suspect was a well-orchestrated arson attack. The government has pledged bring the culprits to justice.

The Frenchman appeared before a public prosecutor in Igoumenitsa as Greek police sent a telefax message to Interpol requesting information about the reportedly wealthy real estate agent.

The stamps on his passport showed that he has travelled to dozens of countries during the past few months.

De Fremont arrived in Greece by air on July 28, staying on Corfu until August 4, when he went to Igoumenitsa.

The police are now examining his movements in view of the fact that fires caused by arson broke out in both areas during the same period of time.

During questioning by police in Igoumenitsa, De Fremont was unable to explain why he had carefully hidden a cigarette lighter in the spare tyre of his car.

De Fremont was reportedly first spotted by a shepherd, Zacharias Tartas, who gave the police details of his car which had been rented from Perdika, Thesprotia.

Man arrested on suspicion of arson: Police yesterday arrested in Thessaloniki a 25-year-old man on suspicion of arson and in possession of a police-fire department wireless receiver.

Antonios Stamatakis was arrested at the landfill of Lagyna and Filiro, Thessaloniki prefecture a few minutes before a fire broke out at the landfill.

According to police, the hands of the man were black from smoke and burned materials, while they added that he will be arraigned today.

Athens News Agency

[06] Flying priest undertakes mission to protect woodlands

Athens, 10/8/1998 (ANA)

Better protected than most are forests in the north of the country, which are lucky enough to have found a faithful ranger to cherish them - in the form of a black-robed, flying priest.

The priest, Theoharis Mengas, 52, roars off in his Rally-180 light aircraft every day at noon, circling woodlands in the prefectures of Kavala, Drama and Serres for five hours. Swooping at the first sign of trouble, father-of- three Theoharis is able to get closer and tip off the authorities in order to forestall disasters in a massive stretch spanning the Nestos and Strymonas rivers.

Believed to be the only flying priest in the Greek Orthodox church, Theoharis from Polystylo in Kavala has spent 4,000-4,500 hours in the air.

Unassuming and publicity-shy, he rarely speaks of his feats; but the Athens Academy has awarded him a prize for a wide range of contributions to social work.

Climbing into his plane every day at Amygdaleonas military airport in Kavala, Theoharis crosses himself and sets off on a lonely vigil that may pinpoint illegal tree-felling, game hunting, hashish cultivations and any suspicious activities beyond forest fires, the object of his mission. The priest, who tips off forestry commission and fire brigade officials on his radio, is a voluntary worker for a fire-monitoring group in Kavala.

Kavala's prefecture authorities recently decided to pay for the cost of fuel he uses in the patrols.

At the end of his shift, Theoharis rushes back to Polystylo to conduct vespers at the Holy Martyrs Church, attend to his parishioners, and teach in a school.

In the little spare time he has, the priest likes to listen to folk and refugee songs, and collect items for a folk museum he set up with his pupils at the local primary school.

Asked by a close associate to comment on his aerial mission, Theoharis reportedly said: "I'm not doing anything special. I'm doing what any other Greek would do. When I'm up there I feel closer to the Almighty, whom I've been serving for decades now. I am flooded by His majesty."

Athens News Agency

[07] British woman killed while para-sailing

A 40-year-old British woman was killed yesterday when she fell into the sea while she was para-sailing at the coastal holiday town of Argasi on the island of Zakinthos, authorities said. Sara-Elisabeth Gzaplincka was para- sailing with her friend Janet Sco field who was not injured.

Port authorities have arrested the owner of the sea sports equipment rental, where the two women rented the para-sailing equipment, and have launched an investigation.

Athens News Agency

[08] Council of State ruling on enclosure

Athens, 10/8/1998 (ANA)

Any barriers built before 1983 may stand as long as five-metre-wide access roads are provided every 300 metres.

The country's highest administrative court thus allowed a country housing complex near Nea Makri, eastern Attica, to maintain an enclosure erected before a 1983 law came into force.

Citing the law, the court said local town planning authorities can impose a suspension on the construction of any kind of enclosure, or order the demolition of any finished structure impeding access to the coastline or lakeside.

Exceptions are allowed for the protection of cultivated land or other special uses.

Athens News Agency

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