Athens News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-08-10
NEWS IN ENGLISH
Athens, Greece, 10/08/1998 (ANA)
MAIN HEADLINES
- Yugoslavia wins World Basketball Championship in Athens
- Lesvos-Imvros direct ferry link
- Fires extinguished in Kavala, Thassos
- British woman killed while para-sailing
- Weather
- Foreign exchange
NEWS IN DETAIL
Yugoslavia wins World Basketball Championship in Athens
Yugoslavia won the 13th World Basketball Championship in Athens last night,
beating Russia 64-62 in a gripping final. The United States placed third
after defeating Greece 84-61.
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.
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."
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."
Lesvos-Imvros direct ferry link
Lesvos Prefect Alekos Mathiellis yesterday announced that the first direct
ferry linkage of the Greek island of Lesvos with the Turkish island of
Imvros will take place on Aug. 21.
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.
Fires extinguished in Kavala, Thassos
Firefighters yesterday extinguished the fire that broke out four days ago
at the northern regions of the Kavala prefecture, authorities announced.
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.
Meanwile, 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.
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.
WEATHER
Hot, sunny weather throughout the country today with scattered cloud in
mainland Greece later in the day. Winds northerly, light to moderate.
Temperatures in Athens between 24C and 36C; and in Thessaloniki from 22C to
34C.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Friday's rates (buying) U.S. dollar 291.747
British pound 476.398 Japanese yen (100) 200.037
French franc 49.074 German mark 164.543
Italian lira (100) 16.666 Irish Punt 413.664
Belgian franc 7.978 Finnish mark 54.114
Dutch guilder 145.888 Danish kr. 43.182
Austrian sch. 23.353 Spanish peseta 1.937
Swedish kr. 36.424 Norwegian kr. 38.390
Swiss franc 195.226 Port. Escudo 1.608
Aus. dollar 175.227 Can. dollar 190.147
Cyprus pound 556.512
(L.G.)
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