The Hellenic Navy (HN) (Greek: Πολεμικό Ναυτικό, Polemikó Naftikó, abbreviated ΠΝ) is the naval force of Greece, part of the Greek Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy has its roots in the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, which fought in the Greek War of Independence. During the periods of monarchy (1833–1924 and 1936–1973) it was known as the Royal Navy (Βασιλικόν Ναυτικόν, Vasilikón Naftikón, abbreviated ΒΝ).The total displacement of all the navy's vessels is approximately 150,000 tons.The motto of the Hellenic Navy is "Μέγα το της Θαλάσσης Κράτος" from Thucydides' account of Pericles' oration on the eve of the Peloponnesian War. This has been roughly translated as "Great is the country that controls the sea". The Hellenic Navy's emblem consists of an anchor in front of a crossed Christian cross and trident, with the cross symbolizing Greek Orthodoxy, and the trident symbolizing Poseidon, the god of the sea in Greek mythology. Pericles' words are written across the top of the emblem. "The navy, as it represents a necessary weapon for Greece, should only be created for war and aim to victory."...............The Hellenic Merchant Marine refers to the Merchant Marine of Greece, engaged in commerce and transportation of goods and services universally. It consists of the merchant vessels owned by Greek civilians, flying either the Greek flag or a flag of convenience. Greece is a maritime nation by tradition, as shipping is arguably the oldest form of occupation of the Greeks and a key element of Greek economic activity since the ancient times. Nowadays, Greece has the largest merchant fleet in the world, which is the second largest contributor to the national economy after tourism and forms the backbone of world shipping. The Greek fleet flies a variety of flags, however some Greek shipowners gradually return to Greece following the changes to the legislative framework governing their operations and the improvement of infrastructure.Blogger Tips and Tricks
This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς....This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς.........

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Turkey: Baykal, "My resignation does not mean running away".. [ 1219 ]

Turkey's opposition leader quits over sex tape

Turkey's opposition leader has resigned after a video circulated on the internet that appeared to show the married 71-year old was conducting an affair.


Deniz Baykal is surrounded by his supporters
The resignation of Deniz Baykal, centre, bolsters  hopes of a shake up in Turkish politics Photo: REUTERS

( REUTERS )by Damien McElroy
Published: 9:24PM BST 10 May 2010

The resignation of Deniz Baykal, who has led the Republican Peoples Party (CHP), bolsters hopes of a shake up in Turkish politics, which has been dominated by the Islamist AK party since 2003.

The footage allegedly showed Mr Baykal in intimate circumstances with a married female lawmaker from his party. Its emergence followed weeks of torrid infighting in the CHP, which traces its roots to the founder of the Turkish republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Last week the opposition accused a rival politician of paying a hitman to kill Mr Baykal.
 

Mr Baykal, who has led the party since 1992, angrily blamed the government, which he blamed for waging a conspiracy against him.
"This is not a sex tape, this is a conspiracy," he said. "If this has a price, and that price is the resignation from CHP leadership, I am ready to pay it. My resignation does not mean running away, or giving in.
"On the contrary, it means that I'm fighting it."

Turkish courts have blocked access to websites carrying the video, which had been heavily edited. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the prime minister, ordered the head of military intelligence to investigate the circumstances of the publication.

Mr Baykal had been due to face a vote on his leadership at a convention to pick the party's leader before the country faces a general election next year. He had led a long rearguard struggle to stop the AK party chipping away at the country's secular restrictions on religion.

Before that Turkey is due to hold a referendum this summer for broad-reaching constitutional reforms that dilute the power of the army and the judiciary.

Analyst said the resignation could rejuvenate opposition to Mr Erdogan. "A common complaint in Turkey has been that the ruling AK party's main strength has been the absence of a credible opposition," said Timothy Ash, an RBS economist. "The hope (amongst moderate secularists at least) now is that with Baykal's departure, the party will see a younger, more energised and reformist leadership emerge which will capture the electorate's imagination and give the ruling AK party a real run for its money."
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