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, February 16, 2014

Pro and anti-Maduro marches in Venezuela...[ 3629 ]


Pro and anti-Maduro marches gather thousands in Venezuela

  BBC.,//

Irene Caselli reports from Caracas: "More marches are expected to take place on Sunday"

Supporters and opponents of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro have taken to the streets of the capital, Caracas, in rival marches.
The demonstrations come at a time of growing political tension in Venezuela.
Three people were killed during anti-government protests on Wednesday, and some 100 students were arrested.
Mr Maduro accused the opposition of stirring up trouble as part of a coup plot and urged his supporters to march for peace on Saturday.



Government supporters began arriving at Venezuela Square, in central Caracas, in the morning.
They were dressed predominantly in red or in Venezuela's national colours - blue, yellow and red.
'Alarming reports' Hours later Mr Maduro addressed thousands of his supporters in Bolivar Avenue. The march was broadcast live on national television.
"I call all the people to the streets in order to defend peace," he said.
He warned that his government would not give in to those he described as "fascists," including former president of neighbouring Colombia, Alvaro Uribe.
"Alvaro Uribe is behind this, financing and directing these fascist movements.
"He intended to use a Venezuelan television channel [NTN24] to do the same they did on 11 April 2002," Mr Maduro said, referring to a failed military coup against the late President, Hugo Chavez.
Nicolas Maduro during rally in Caracas Maduro says the Venezuelan people must defend the "Bolivarian Revolution" launched by Hugo Chavez
Mr Uribe, a centre-right politician, was a fierce enemy of Mr Chavez and accused the late president of supporting Colombia's largest rebel group, the Farc.
Mr Maduro said police had been looking for opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, accused of ordering "all these violent kids, which he trained, to destroy half of Caracas to then go into hiding".
Mr Lopez has not been seen in public since an arrest warrant was issued for him on Wednesday.
The United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, has issued a statement expressing concern by the rising tensions in Venezuela.
"We are particularly alarmed by reports that the Venezuelan government has arrested or detained scores of anti-government protestors and issued an arrest warrant for opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez," read the statement.
Opposition demonstrators, including a movement known as Mothers in White, gathered at Las Mercedes neighbourhood in eastern Caracas.

Opposition march in Caracas "Freedom for the prisoners," reads the banner held by opposition protesters.
Thousands of people, mostly wearing white, marched towards the Courts of Justice building and stopped for a memorial ceremony to the three demonstrators killed on Wednesday: Bassil da Costa, Juan Montoya and Robert Redman.
Student leader Enrique Altimari said the main aim of their "peaceful protest" was to "pay tribute to the victims".
'Not after dark' He said the march would end before night fell, to avoid a repeat of the incidents of Wednesday.
The three victims were shot dead by unknown gunmen as the opposition marches came to an end.
"The streets at night are not a safe place for us. We would not be achieving any goal and would only fall in the trap set up by violent pro-government groups," Mr Altimari said.
The opposition march ended before dusk with clashes between police, who fired tear gas in attempts to disperse the crowd, and demonstrators who hurled stones.
Reports say three people were injured.
The main opposition grievances are high inflation, crime and the shortage of some staples.

Anti-Maduro protest in Caracas The march against Maduro's government descended into violence
The government has blamed the shortages on "saboteurs" and "profit-hungry corrupt businessmen".
Venezuelan politics has become increasingly polarised.
Mr Maduro was elected last April by a narrow margin, defeating the centre-right candidate, Henrique Capriles, who denounced electoral fraud.
A former union leader, Mr Maduro was a close ally of President Hugo Chavez, who died of cancer last March after 14 years in office.
Mr Capriles says the government's left-wing policies have led to economic collapse, including high inflation - 56.2% in 2013, according to official figures.

Opposition march in Caracas Anti-government demonstrators held a memorial ceremony for the three people killed on Wednesday

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