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.

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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.........

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Athens ,Explosives found at militant hideout [ 962 ]

Explosives found at suspected Greek militant hideout

Reuters -Breaking News
Saturday, April 17, 2010; 1:28 PM

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek police found 195 kg (429 lb) of explosives on Saturday at the hideout of a suspected member of the country's most militant guerrilla group, Revolutionary Struggle, who was detained earlier this week.

Police said they had found the stash of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil in a garage registered to a name found on a false identification card seized in raids last week that led to the arrest of six suspected members of the group.

"It is a quite big quantity," police spokesman Thanassis Kokkalakis told Reuters. "It could have brought down a 6-storey apartment block."

Police said the explosive was the same type used in a bomb claimed by Revolutionary Struggle that seriously damaged the Athens Stock Exchange last year.

Prosecutors have charged the six with participating in bomb attacks, participating in a terrorist group, attempted murder, and other crimes. The accused have denied any wrongdoing.

The arrests followed a surge in bomb blasts this year across Athens, which has a history of attacks from left-wing guerrillas that have killed more than a score of people, including diplomats, businessmen and politicians in the past four decades.

Since coming to power in October, the socialist government has made combating guerrillas a priority. The arrests were seen as a victory at a time when the government has had to implement tough austerity measures to fight a growing economic crisis.

Revolutionary Struggle emerged in 2003 after police captured deadly urban guerrilla group November 17. It is best known for firing a rocket-propelled grenade at the U.S. embassy in Athens in 2007. It also tried to kill a minister in 2006.

(Reporting by Angeliki Koutantou; Writing by Michael Winfrey; Editing by Jon Hemming)

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