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, April 11, 2012

Chinese asylum-seekers...[ 2812 ]

Chinese boatpeople decide to stay in Australia to have refugee claims assessed


Darwin
A man from the group of Chinese asylum-seekers which has landed in Darwin has now decided to stay in Australia. Picture: Daniel Hartley Allen Source: Northern Territory News
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TEN Chinese nationals who wanted to seek asylum New Zealand have decided to remain in Australia to have their refugee claims assessed.
Immigration Minister Chris Bowen this afternoon confirmed the group, which includes a six-year-old girl and an eight-year-old boy, decided not to make the perilous journey from Darwin to New Zealand and had formally requested asylum in Australia.
"A short time ago the ten asylum-seekers became asylum-seekers when they indicated they wished to claim asylum in Australia," Mr Bowen told ABC News 24.
"I obviously think that is a good outcome in that it means they won't be undertaking yet another dangerous boat journey to a third country and we will now process them in the normal way."
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Mr Bowen said the group, who arrived in Darwin last week and have been camping at the Cullen Bay ferry wharf on temporary visas, would not be transferred to Christmas Island for processing.

They would be placed in a mainland detention centre while the initial health, security and identity checks were carried out, he said.
Mr Bowen said eight of the group had passports which would mean their processing could occur quickly.
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"The process will begin in Darwin and then obviously we will talk to them about where best they can be accommodated across the network," Mr Bowen said.
The group of Falun Gong members, who originally met in Malaysia last month before deciding to sail for New Zealand, had changed their minds about continuing their journey after the dangers of the voyage were explained, he said.
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Immigration officials arrived at the ferry terminal about 7.30am Darwin time (8am AEST) and spoke with the adults in the group with help from what appeared to be an over-the-phone interpreter.
"We explained to them what would happen to them if they were processed in Australia and what would happen if they were processed in New Zealand," Mr Bowen said.
"They've come to their own decision. We did not enter into any special arrangements with them."
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The group were picked up on their yacht by Australian authorities last week after it experienced mechanical difficulties. They told The Australian they were at sea for 27 days.
Last night they were in intense deliberations as to if they would continue their journey to New Zealand.
They were fearful about the prospect of detention in Australia and about the possibility of being separated from each other.
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Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison today stood by his accusations yesterday that the group of 10 Chinese nationals were "country shopping".
"I think what this circumstance highlights is that we have occasions now where people coming on boats are in the business of country shopping when it comes to where they may seek to make their claim," Mr Morrison said.
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"That's not what I think was intended by the refugee convention, it was designed for those in a place of persecution going across a border and seeking asylum. What we have now is an industry that takes people halfway around the world, on planes, puts them on busses, puts them on hotels then puts them on boats on route to Australia."
He said ultimately the decision to travel to New Zealand was one for the Chinese group.
"What they do is a matter for them. If they seek to make a claim for asylum in Australia there is a process for them to go through so that is a matter of their own decision," Mr Morrison said.
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"Obviously they have been told about the very real risks of that sea journey and the matter will rest with them and their own decision."
The group includes three generations from one family - a young brother and sister, their parents and their grandfather. The Australian has been told nobody from the group has been in China since 2009.
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The immigration department keeps family groups together in places of alternative detention such as community housing but single adult males are usually detained in immigration detention centres.
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