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.........

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Arabs backing Libya no-fly zone..[ 2174 ]

Arab League backs Libya no-fly zone


Marwa Awad and Yasmine Saleh, Reuters March 13, 2011, 4:13 am
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CAIRO (Reuters) - The Arab League on Saturday asked the U.N. Security Council to impose a no-fly zone on Libya, giving a regional seal of approval that NATO has said is vital for any military action.
The League had already suspended Libya over its handling of an uprising against Muammar Gaddafi's rule and said his government's "serious crimes and great violations" against the people had "stripped it of legitimacy."
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The pan-Arab body also formally announced it had opened contacts with the Libyan rebel movement based in Benghazi which has taken control of much of the east of the country during an uprising aiming to end Gaddafi's 41 years in power.
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"Dealing with it is recognising it," Secretary General Amr Moussa told a news conference.
"The Arab League has officially asked the U.N. Security Council to impose a no-fly zone against any military action against the Libyan people," he added. The League called for "safe areas" in areas that were facing bombardment.
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He did not say whether any of the Arab states, which had convened an emergency session, were ready to take part in the no-fly zone, which the League said should be lifted when the crisis is over.
The Arab League's position was unusually strong for an organisation long plagued by deep divisions among members states and reflected years of strained ties between Gaddafi and countries including Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

'NOT ONLY CONDITION'
British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the Arab League's position was "very significant. We've said all along that one of the conditions for a no-fly zone must be broad support in the region," he told BBC television.
"It's not the only condition," he added. "It's also necessary to have even broader international support and it's also necessary for it to be clearly legal to impose a no-fly zone, and for there to be a continuing and demonstrable need."
Britain and France had been working on the elements of a resolution that would bring about a no-fly zone, he added.
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NATO said on Thursday strong Arab support was one of the factors needed for action on a no-fly zone. It also said more planning was needed, together with a U.N. mandate.
The United States has said a no-fly zone remains an option to put pressure on Gaddafi, although U.S. Secretary of Defence Robert Gates has appeared cool to the idea.
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The Arab League decided "to open channels of dialogue" with the rebel Libyan National Council to discuss ways of providing support and assistance to the Libyan people and to protect them, it said.
The rebels have been calling for a no-fly zone to protect civilians from aerial bombardment by Gaddafi's air force.
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Mustafa Abdel-Jalil, head of the rebel council, said the decision would be the basis for a U.N. resolution that "could preserve blood. I thank the Arab foreign ministers and the Arab League," he told Al Arabiya.
The Omani foreign minister, chair of the meeting, said all states had supported the resolution. Moussa later said one or two had expressed "partial reservations" but he did not name them. Gulf Arab states came out strongly in favour of a no-fly zone this week, saying Gaddafi had lost legitimacy.
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European Union leaders agreed on Friday to consider all options to try to force Gaddafi to step down, but stopped short of endorsing air strikes, a no-fly zone or other military means.
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Saif al-Islam, one of Gaddafi's sons, told supporters in Tripoli this week the Arabs were "nothing." "Screw Arabs and the Arab League," he said.
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(Writing and additional reporting by Tom Perry; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
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