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.........

Saturday, May 29, 2010

South Korea and Japan to stand united against North Korea.. [ 1323 ]

South Korea and Japan united against North Korea

SEOGWIPO
Sat May 29, 2010 5:39am EDT


SEOGWIPO South Korea (Reuters) - South Korea and Japan on Saturday vowed to stand united against North Korea ahead of a regional summit likely to press China over its reluctance to taken on Pyongyang over the sinking of a South Korean ship.

Leaders of the three big northeast Asian powers are meeting in Seogwipo, a honeymoon resort on the South Korean island of Jeju, with the original intention of boosting plans for greater regional cooperation and economic integration.

Instead, the quarrel between North and South Korea has stolen the limelight. The two sides of the divided, heavily armed peninsula are in a deepening standoff after a South Korean warship was sunk in late March, killing 46 sailors, and Seoul has concluded that North Korea was responsible.
In talks over two days, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao are likely to dwell the dispute, which has opened a breach between China and its neighbors, both of whom back firm international action against Pyongyang.

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At Hatoyama's suggestion, the three leaders observed a moment's silence for the dead sailors before starting their talks.
"North Korea's provocative actions are unforgivable," Hatoyama was quoted by a senior Japanese government official as telling Lee ahead of the main three-way summit. "Japan, along with the international community, is condemning such moves and strongly backs South Korea."
The mounting antagonism between the two Koreas has unnerved investors, worried the confrontation could erupt into conflict in this region holding the world's second and third biggest economies -- Japan and China.

Many analysts say that neither side is ready to go to war, but warn there could be more skirmishes, especially along their disputed sea border off the west coast.
China counts neighboring North Korea as a friend and a buffer against the other, U.S.-allied neighbors. It has stayed away from condemning Pyongyang, saying it needs to consider the evidence and urging restraint on all sides.

Wen held to that position in a meeting with Lee on Friday, but he also said Beijing would not protect anyone found culpable for the sinking. In his opening remarks to the three-nation summit, Wen did not mention the Cheonan and struck an upbeat tone.
"I look forward to working with President Lee and Prime Minister Hatoyama to achieve solid results (at the meeting) and send a message to the world of confidence and hope in peace, stability and development (in the region)," said Wen.

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Beijing's reticence makes for tricky diplomacy for Seoul, which will need China's backing or abstention from voting to secure a U.N. Security Council statement or resolution criticizing North Korea over the sinking. As a permanent member of the Security Council, China can veto such actions.
The leaders of South Korea and Japan made a show on unity over that issue on Saturday.
"Hatoyama said he will take a leading role in international cooperation (against North over the Cheonan) and expressed strong will to back South Korea's position at the U.N. Security Council," said South Korea presidential aide Lee Dong-kwan after President Lee's meeting with the Japanese prime minister.

Hatoyama later told reporters: "We believe what North Korea did is an objective fact."
North Korea state media said on Saturday the United States blamed it for sinking the South Korean warship to "put China into an awkward position and keep hold on Japan and south Korea as its servants."

North Korea has said it will rip up military agreements with the South guaranteeing safety of cross-border exchanges and has reportedly put its military on combat readiness after Seoul said it would ban trade with the North and stop its commercial ships using South Korean waters.

(Additional reporting by Chris Buckley in SEOGWIPO; Writing by Chris Buckley; Editing by Nick Macfie)

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