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, June 5, 2011

Portugal :Vote amid bail-out austerity...[ 2297 ]


Portugal election: Vote amid bail-out austerity

Socialist leader Jose Socrates campaigns in Lisbon, 3 June  
Jose Socrates has vowed to protect welfare programmes
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BBC.,5 June 2011 Last updated at 07:00 GMT

Voters in Portugal are going to the polls to choose a new government which will implement a demanding 78bn euro ($116bn; £70bn) bail-out.
Opinion polls suggest the opposition centre-right Social Democrats (PSD) lead the governing Socialists, but not by enough to form a majority.
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Analysts say the PSD may try to form a coalition with the third-ranked CDS.
All the main parties endorsed the bail-out, which requires tough austerity measures amid a faltering economy.
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Socialist leader Jose Socrates resigned as prime minister in March, triggering early elections after the opposition in parliament rejected his minority government's fourth austerity package in less than a year.
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Since then, he has acted as caretaker prime minister.
'Politically difficult' Portugal is faced with unemployment of more than 12% and an economy that is expected to contract by 2% this year and next.
Polls suggest the centre-right Social Democrats will win nearly 37% of the vote, compared to about 31% for the Socialists.
Party leader Pedro Passos Coelho suggested this week that he was the preferred candidate of donors to the bail-out fund.
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Social Democrat leader Pedro Passos Coelho campaigns in Lisbon - 3 June 2011  
Social Democrat leader Pedro Passos Coelho said he would cut wasteful state spending
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"We are going to cut state waste and excesses while finding a way for the needy to get what they need," he told supporters.
Mr Socrates has accused the Social Democrats of pursuing a "radical right-wing agenda" and criticises Mr Passos Coelho for lacking experience in government.
"If you think social protection programs are important, vote for the Socialist Party because our policies ensure the welfare state," he told a party rally on Friday.
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Whoever wins on Sunday will have to enact urgent and far-reaching social and fiscal reforms, including more austerity measures, to restore national fiscal health and encourage growth.
The terms of the bail-out call for tax hikes, a freeze on state pensions and salaries and cuts in unemployment benefits.
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"The road with this package is long and filled with reforms which may be politically difficult to pass," Diego Iscaro, an economist at IHS Global Insight, told Reuters news agency.
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