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.........

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Greek riot police end occupation of state TV building...[ 3173 ]

Greek police end five-month occupation of former national TV building

euronews 07/11 16:17 CET
Overnight the Greek government moved against some 50 former ERT journalists who had been holed up in their headquarters since June, broadcasting against the administration’s austerity policies. ERT stands for Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (Ellinikí Radiofonía Tileórasi), Greece’s former state broadcaster.
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Riot police moved in to evict the journalists and close down the channel for good. Since June they had been effectively unemployed, squatting in government property. Four journalists were briefly detained, then released. No one was hurt.
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President of the ERT worker’s union Panagiotis Kalfagiannis said: “Today they had to muddy the waters because the troika members are in Athens and the government is to take new measures. They had to find a way to do this, and are now acting like fascists. They want to shut everyone’s mouth, and they have partially achieved this by using fear and a variety of different methods. We are the only ones left standing.”
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[The ‘troika’ means the tripartite committee led by the European Commission with the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund, that organises loans to the Greek government and to other governments.]
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Journalist Nikos Ioannidis said: “We, the employees of ERT, are outside the premises and as we speak we are planning to start broadcasting from here; this is our immediate goal.”
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While some employees at the bloated broadcaster were certainly ‘dead weight’ and ‘enjoying easy street’, others were not, and they have considerable sympathy, from public and unions alike.
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Thanasis Pafilis with the Greek Communist party said: “There has to be an answer to that. This is our message. All workers must be accountable, not only for what happened today, but because there are a lot of things happening and going wrong.”
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Syriza opposition MP Zoe Konstantopoulou said: “What is taking place at this moment will be a black page in the country’s history. The government should be ashamed and will have to apologise forever.”
The government has set up a new public broadcaster but it has failed to gain much of an audience and Greeks know it is no substitute for the original.
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Fay Doulgkeri with the euronews bureau in Athens said: “Last June 11, Greece’s national television stopped broadcasting. Almost five months later, police forces accompanied by a public prosecutor invaded the building in order to empty it. ERT employees have said that they will not give up the fight and are looking for new ways to keep on broadcasting.”
 2013 euronews