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, January 12, 2014

.Egyptian army chief will run for president..[ 3334 ]

Egyptian army chief Abdel Fatah al-Sisi hints he will run for president

 The Guardian home
  in Cairo//  
 

Sisi supporter
A supporter of General Abdel Fatah al-Sisi wears his picture around his neck in Cairo, Egypt. Photograph: Haisam Mahgoub/Demotix/Corbis
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General who ousted Mohamed Morsi says he will take yes vote in constitutional referendum as mandate to run for office
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Egypt's army chief has given his clearest indication yet that he will run for president. General Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, the man who ousted Mohamed Morsi following mass protests last July, appeared to tell military colleagues on Saturday that he would view a strong yes vote in this week's constitutional referendum as a mandate to run for office.
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"If I run for the presidency, it must be by the request of the people and with a mandate from my army," Sisi said, according to Egypt's state-run news agency, in response to a question at an army lecture. "When Egyptians say something, we obey and I will never turn my back on Egypt."
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Sisi's comments came three days before the start of a referendum on a new constitution that officials and local media have largely portrayed as an informal plebiscite on the direction the country has taken since Morsi's overthrow. The timing of Sisi's intervention suggested he would see strong support for the constitution as a sign that he should run.
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For months, Sisi has refused to confirm or deny rumours that he will seek the presidency. His uncertain intentions have made it difficult for others to declare their own presidential ambitions. Few are willing to openly declare their opposition to a man many praise for overthrowing Morsi, and who is expected to win any contest he enters.
"I think if Sisi runs, and I think that's most likely now, he will win in the first round," argued Sameh Seif Elyazal, a retired army general, and director of the al-Gomhoria centre for political and security studies. Speaking to the Guardian earlier this week, Elyazal said that only Sisi had the popularity to unite Egyptians through what is expected to be a tough upcoming period.
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Support for Sisi is clearly visible across much of Egypt. Posters and banners of the general adorn many Egyptian streets, and his supporters claim to have gathered millions of signatures calling for him to run. Many who protested against the authoritarian Hosni Mubarak in 2011 may now welcome a new strongman as president, exhausted by the three years of turmoil that have followed Mubarak's fall.
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But reliable polling is scarce in Egypt, and it is unclear exactly how large a faction his supporters form. A Zogby poll from September suggested that although backing for the army stands at 71%, Sisi and Morsi have roughly even support.
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Only 10% of expatriate Egyptians, who began voting early, have taken part in the referendum, according to figures released by Egyptian officials – with just one day of overseas voting left. Though it is far harder for Egyptians living abroad to access polling stations, the turnout so far is well below the 70% participation rate the constitution's backers have said they hope for.
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Sisi is reviled by supporters and sympathisers with Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, who have faced a harsh crackdown since July. More than a thousand have been killed and thousands more arrested, and the group was recently declared a terrorist organisation.
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Secular activists who joined calls for Morsi's deposition have also begun to criticise Sisi and the government he installed, after the suppression of the Brotherhood spread to non-Islamists.

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