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.

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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.........

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Lebanon to equip army..[ 1645 ]

Lebanon opens bank account for donations to equip army

Lebanese army parade on 66th anniversary of independence from
France - 22 Nov 2009

Lebanon's army uses US equipment, such as these M-60 tanks

BBC 14 August 2010 Last updated at 15:53 GMT

Lebanon's defence minister says the country has opened a bank account to receive donations to buy weapons for its poorly-equipped army.

The defence minister, Elias Murr, said he and his father, former defence minister Michel Murr, had deposited $670,000 (£430,000) to start the fund.

It comes after US legislators blocked $100m of military aid over concerns it might be used against Israel.

Four people were killed in a clash on the Israel-Lebanon border on 3 August.

Announcing the new bank account, Mr Murr said he hoped both Lebanese at home and living abroad would donate.

The US has provided Lebanon with $720m in military aid since 2006 and the Department of State has said military co-operation with Lebanon will continue.

Despite the US help, Lebanon's 60,000-strong military is considered ill-equipped.

Conditions rejected

Last week, the chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, Howard Berman, said he had used his legislative prerogative to suspend assistance to the Lebanese armed forces on 2 August.

He said there were concerns in Congress over the influence of Lebanon's Shia Islamist Hezbollah movement over the army and that weapons bought with the aid might be turned on Israel.

Mr Berman also said the border clash - which resulted in the deaths of two Lebanese soldiers, a Lebanese journalist and a senior Israeli army officer - had only reinforced his decision.

Mr Murr said the US aid would be rejected if it came with "the condition that it does not protect its territory, people and border".

Iran and Syria, supporters of Hezbollah, have since reaffirmed their support for the Lebanese army.

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