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.........

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Japan: Presence of U.S. Marines in Okinawa ..[ 2101 ]

Hatoyama was irresponsible to use presence of U.S. Marines in Okinawa as political maneuver

 (Mainichi Japan) February 16, 2011

Former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's remarks to the effect that he cited the deterrent role of U.S. Marines in Japan merely as a political maneuver to justify his administration's decision to scrap its pledge to relocate the force's Air Station Futenma out of Okinawa Prefecture is extremely irresponsible and outrageous.
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During the campaign for the 2009 general election, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) pledged to relocate Futenma base out of the prefecture.
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In May last year, however, then Prime Minister Hatoyama changed his policy and signed an agreement with the United States to shift the base to the Henoko district of Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, as agreed to under the previous administration comprised of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and New Komeito.
At the time, Hatoyama said his studies concluded that the presence of Marines in Okinawa Prefecture is indispensable as a deterrent against war.
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In a recent joint interview with the Ryukyu Shimpo and other local newspapers in Okinawa, however, Hatoyama denied that he recognizes that the presence of Marines in the southernmost prefecture is necessary as a deterrent.
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"Tokunoshima Island (in Kagoshima Prefecture) refused to host a substitute facility, and we had no choice but to move it to Henoko, but we needed to offer a rationale to justify that," he said in the interview. "I don't think the presence of the Marine Corps in Okinawa will serve as a deterrent against war. My earlier comments were expedient, so to speak."
In short, Hatoyama admitted that he rationalized the relocation within the prefecture by citing the Marines' deterrent against war because his administration failed to persuade Washington to accept the relocation of the base out of Okinawa and he was unable to convince Okinawa residents or the entire nation of the decision to relocate the U.S. base within the prefecture.
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Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima expressed displeasure at the former prime minister's remarks while Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine asserted that the national government lost the basis for its decision to relocate Futenma base within the prefecture. It is natural that the local community is angry at Hatoyama's remarks.
Hatoyama had pledged not to seek re-election as a House of Representatives member after resigning as prime minister. However, after his resignation last year, he retracted his pledge and has also failed to live up to his promise to submit documents regarding his mother's provision of funds to him to the Diet.
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The public has lost faith in anything Hatoyama says. Moreover, Hatoyama has joined hands with DPJ heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa in criticizing the administration of Prime Minister Naoto Kan.
Kan, who was deputy prime minister in the Hatoyama Cabinet, has taken over the policy of relocating Futenma base to Henoko and Tokyo's agreement with Washington on the issue. The Kan administration is moving ahead with the relocation on the grounds that the presence of the Marine Corps in Okinawa is indispensable as a deterrent. The fact that Hatoyama, who was responsible for the decision, reversed this reasoning certainly has a huge impact on the Kan administration's policy.
Hatoyama should explain why he changed his policy on relocating Futenma base as well as his recent remarks to convince the public. The Diet has an option to summon him to testify over the issue.
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At the same time, Kan is required to explain the need to keep U.S. Marine Corps stationed in Okinawa and their role as a deterrent.
Hatoyama's recent remarks have made it far more difficult for the central government to regain the confidence of Okinawa residents.
Click here for the original Japanese story

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