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.........

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

The Lockerbie bomber's health prognosis..[ 1622 ]

Scotland defends Lockerbie bomber prognosis doctor




Abdel Basset al-Megrahi is seen in his room at a hospital in Tripoli in this September 9, 2009 file photo. REUTERS/Ismail Zetouny

By Tim Castle
LONDON | Wed Aug 11, 2010 9:25am EDT
LONDON (Reuters) - Scottish authorities defended the doctor who said Lockerbie bomber Abdel Basset al-Megrahi had three months to live, after U.S. senators asked them to release the Libyan's medical records.


The senators are probing the circumstances surrounding the release in August last year of Megrahi, convicted of the 1988 bombing of an airliner over Lockerbie, Scotland.


Megrahi is still alive a year after Scottish authorities freed him on compassionate grounds. A medical report compiled by Andrew Fraser, the Scottish Prison Service's director of health and care, said he had terminal prostate cancer and could die in three months.


Fraser was "a professional of unimpeachable integrity" who consulted a range of experts before reaching his prognosis, a Scottish government spokeswoman said on Wednesday.


Megrahi's continued survival has sustained the controversy over the Scottish decision. Most of the 270 people killed in the bombing were Americans, and Megrahi's release and triumphant homecoming in Libya provoked an outcry in the United States.


U.S. anger resurfaced recently after suggestions British energy giant BP PLC had lobbied Scotland for Megrahi's release. BP and Scottish ministers have denied the accusations.


"Dr Fraser drew on expert advice from a number of cancer specialists in coming to his clinical assessment that a three month prognosis was a reasonable estimate for Mr. Al-Megrahi -- it was not based on the opinion of any one doctor," the Scottish government spokeswoman said.


"These specialists included two consultant oncologists, two consultant urologists and a number of other specialists, including a palliative care team, and Mr. Al-Megrahi's primary care physician."

"In every regard, due and proper process was followed at every stage," she added.


Four senators wrote to Scottish First Secretary Alex Salmond on Tuesday asking the government to provide "full medical information" or to request Megrahi's permission to release the information, if that was necessary.


They referred to recent news reports that suggested the three-month prognosis was based on the opinion of a single doctor, rather than a team of specialists who had been treating the convicted bomber.

The letter was signed by Senators Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey and Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York.


The Scottish government said it would reply to the letter "in due course".

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee planned a hearing last month on Lockerbie, but postponed it after witnesses from Britain refused to appear, including BP's former CEO, Tony Hayward, former British Justice Minister Jack Straw, and Scottish officials.

(Editing by Peter Graff)
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