NationStates Jolt Archive

The Hellenic Republic is a country in southeastern Europe, situated on the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula. It is bordered by Albania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north and by Turkey to the east. The Aegean Sea lies to the east and south of mainland Greece, while the Ionian Sea lies to the west. Both, parts of the eastern Mediterranean basin, feature a vast number of islands.

Greece lies at the juncture of Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is heir to the heritages of classical Greece, the Byzantine Empire, and nearly four centuries of Ottoman rule. egarded as the cradle of western civilization and being the birthplace of democracy, Western philosophy, the Olympic Games, western literature, political science, major scientific principles and drama (including both tragedy and comedy), Greece has a particularly long and eventful history and a cultural heritage which has been considerably influential in Northern Africa and the Middle East and fundamentally formative for the culture of Europe and what is now called the West.

Today, Greece is a developed country, a NATO Member since 1951, the OECD since 1960, the WEU since 1995, and the ESA since 2005. Athens is the capital; Thessaloniki, Piraeus and Patras are some of the country's other major cities.

Capital (and largest city) Athens
Official languagesGreek
Government Parliamentary republic
- President Karolos Papoulias
- Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis
- Presdient of Parliament Anna Benaki-Psarouda

Area - Total 131,990 km² (96th) = 50,944 sq mi
- Water (%) 0.8669
Population 11,125,179 (74th)
GDP (PPP) - Total $305.595 billion (37th)
- Per capita $27,360 (27th)
GDP (nominal) - Total $341.826 billion (27th)
- Per capita $30,603 (24th)
Gini 35.44 (low)
HDI 0.921 (high) (24th)
- Total $341.826 billion (27th)
- Per capita $30,603 (24th)

After liberation from Nazi Germany, Greece experienced an equally bitter civil war between the self-proclaimed communist Democratic Army of Greece and the Hellenic Army. The war lasted until 1949, when communist forces were defeated in the Battle of Grammos-Vitsi. However, during the 1950s and 1960s, Greece experienced a gradual and significant economic growth, also aided by grants and loans by the United States through the Marshall Plan.

In 1965 a period of political turbulence and uncertainty began which led to a coup d’etat against the elected government and King Constantine II on April 21, 1967. In their place, a US-supported military junta, known as the Regime of the Colonels, was established. In the ensuing years, a number of sympathisers of the left, as well as a number of politicians and communists, were arrested and brutally tortured by the members of the regime. Many politicians evaded capture and found political refuge elsewhere in Europe, such as France and Sweden. The then head of state, King Constantine, had officially acknowledged the new regime, which was then duly recognized by the international community, so diplomatic relations continued. However, The King subsequently attempted a failed counter-coup in December 1967, after which the former head of state went into exile in Rome. In November 1973 the Athens Polytechnic Uprising sent shockwaves across the regime, but the junta was not suppressed until July 20, 1974. On that day, Turkey invaded Cyprus, allegedly to protect the island's Turkish minority from a junta-sponsored coup d'etat. The developing crisis led to the collapse of the Regime of the Colonels on July 23, 1974.

Andreas Papandreou, a leading figure in modern Greek political stage.Ex-Premier Constantine Karamanlis was immediately invited back from Paris, where he had resided since 1963. Marking the beginning of the Metapolitefsi era of modern Greek history, the plane carrying Constantine Karamanlis landed in Athens in the early hours of July 24, amidst massive celebrations and enormous crowds, extending from the capital's Ellinikon International Airport to Syntagma Square; Karamanlis was immediately appointed as the interim prime minister under President Gizikis and founded the conservative New Democracy party, going on to win the ensuing elections by a large margin. Democratic rule was finally restored in its birthplace and a democratic republican constitution activated in 1975. The monarchy was abolished by a referendum held that same year, denying King Constantine II and his family any access to the country until 2004. Meanwhile, another prominent figure of the past, Andreas Papandreou, had also returned from the United States and had already founded the Panhellenic Socialist Party, or PASOK.

Karamanlis won the 1977 parliamentary elections but resigned in 1980 giving way to George Rallis; Papandreou, however, won the elections held on October 18, 1981 by a landslide and formed the first socialist government in Greece's history. Papandreou dominated the Greek political stage for almost 15 years (excepted only by the 1990-1993 period when Constantine Mitsotakis of the New Democracy party won elections), until his death in June 23, 1996. By that time Kostas Simitis, one of many prominent political figures of PASOK, had already succeeded the ailing and hospitalized Papandreou as the new Prime Minister. Following a long period of diplomatic tension and the threat of a military confrontation (the Imia-Kardak crisis), relations with neighbouring Turkey have improved substantially over the last decade, since successive earthquakes hit both nations in the summer of 1999. Rapprochement came about through what became known as Greek-Turkish earthquake diplomacy and today Greece is an active supporter of Turkey, under the assumption that it addresses humanitarian issues. Prime Minister Simitis remained in office until March 7, 2004 when Kostas Karamanlis of the conservative New Democracy party and a nephew of Constantine Karamanlis, won the parliamentary elections. Greece has experienced a remarkable and sustained economic growth after 1981. Widespread investments in industrial enterprises and heavy infrastructure, as well as funds growing revenues from tourism, shipping and a fast growing service sector have raised the country's standard of living to unprecedented levels. The country successfully organised the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

Kostas Karamanlis, the current Prime Minister of Greece.The Constitution of Greece, describes the country as a parliamentary republic Δημοκρατία)[10], grants extensive specific guarantees of civil liberties and vests the powers of the head of state in a President elected by parliament for a five-year term.

The Greek governmental structure is similar to that found in many Western democracies, and has been described as a compromise between the French and German models. The Prime Minister and cabinet play the central role in the political process, while the President performs some executive and legislative functions in addition to ceremonial duties.

The Prime Minister of Greece is the head of government, and Executive power is exercised by that government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Hellenic Parliament. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature and comprises three Supreme Courts: the Court of Cassation, the Council of State and the Court of Auditors. The Judiciary system is also composed of civil courts, which judge civil and penal cases and administrative courts, which judge administrative cases, namely disputes between the citizens and the State.

Greece elects a legislature by universal suffrage of all citizens over the age of 18. The Hellenic Parliament (Vouli ton Ellinon) has 300 members, elected for a four-year term. Since the restoration of democracy the party system is dominated by the liberal-conservative New Democracy and the socialist PASOK, or Panhellenic Socialist Movement. Non-negligible parties include the Communist Party of Greece and the Coalition of the Radical Left.

On March 7, 2004, Kostas Karamanlis, president of the New Democracy party and nephew of the late Constantine Karamanlis was elected as the new Prime Minister of Greece, thus marking his party's first electoral victory in nearly eleven years. Karamanlis took over government from Kostas Simitis of PASOK, who had been in office since January 1996, replacing the ailing charismatic leader Andreas Papandreou who died on June 23, 1996.

Greece operates a capitalist economy that produced a GDP of $251.7 billion in 2006. The principal economic activities mainly include the tourism and shipping industries, banking & finance, manufacturing and construction and telecommunications. The country serves as the regional business hub for many of the world's largest multinational companies.
The people of Greece enjoy a high standard of living. Greece ranks 24th in the 2006 HDI, 22nd on The Economist's 2005 world-wide quality-of-life index, and it has an average per capita income that has been estimated at $27,360 for the year 2007, or around 93% of the EU average.
Greece's present prosperity is largely owed to the post-WWII "Greek economic miracle" (when GDP growth averaged 7% between 1950 and 1973), the implementation of a number of structural and fiscal reforms, combined with considerable European Union funding over the last twenty-five years and increasing private consumption.
Today, the service industry (74.4%) makes up the largest, most vital and fastest-growing sector of the Greek economy, followed by industry (20.6%) and agriculture (5.1%).The tourism industry is a major source of foreign exchange earnings and revenue accounting for 15% of Greece’s total GDP and employing (directly or indirectly) 659,719 people (or 16.5% of total employment). In 2005, Greece welcomed almost 18 million visitors and in 2006 that figure almost reached 20 million.
The Greek banking & finance sector is also an important source of revenue and employment and Greek banks have invested heavily in the Balkan region. The manufacturing sector accounts for about 13% of GDP with the food industry leading in growth, profit and export potential.
High-technology equipment production, especially for telecommunications, is also a fast-growing sector. Other important areas include textiles, building materials, machinery, transport equipment, and electrical appliances. Construction (10%GDP) and agriculture (7%) are yet two other significant sectors of the Greek economic activity.

Greek Maritime Industry

The shipping industry is a key element of Greek economic activity. Given that Greece is a peninsula, shipping in ancient times was the natural way for Greeks to reach their neighboring people, trade with them and expand by establishing colonies. Today, shipping is one of the country's most important industries. It accounts for 4.5% of GDP, employs about 160,000 people (4% of the workforce), and represents 1/3 of the countries trade deficit.

During the 1960's the size of the Greek fleet nearly doubled, primarily through the investment undertaken by the shipping magnates Onassis and Niarchos. The basis of the modern Greek maritime industry was formed after WWII when Greek shipping businessmen were able to amass surplus ships sold to them by the United States Government through the Ship Sales Act of the 1940s.

According to the BTS, the Greek-owned maritime fleet is today the largest in the world, with 3,079 vessels accounting for 18% of the world's fleet capacity (making it the largest of any other country) with a total dwt of 141,931 thousand (142 million dwt). In terms of ship categories, Greece ranks first in both tankers and dry bulk carriers, fourth in the number of containers, and fourth in other ships.

Shipping is arguably the oldest form of occupation of the Greeks. It is the second largest contributor to the Greek economy after tourism and forms the backbone of world shipping. Its key centers of operation are Pireaus, London and New York. It flies under a variety of flags, including flags of convenience. However, some Greek shipping is gradually returning to Greece following the improved legislative framework governing its operations and the improved infrastructure.

Because of its strategic location, qualified workforce and political and economic stability, many multinational companies, such as Ericsson, Siemens, SAP, Motorola, Coca-Cola have their regional R&D Headquarters in Greece.

The General Secretariat for Research and Technology of the Hellenic Ministry of Development is responsible for designing, implementing and supervising national research and technological policy.

In 2003, public spending on R&D was 456,37 million Euros (12,6% increase from 2002). Total research and development (R&D) spending (both public and private) as a percentage of GDP has increased considerably since the beginning of the past decade, from 0,38% in 1989, to 0,65% in 2001. R&D spending in Greece remains lower than the EU average of 1,93%, but, according to Research DC, based on OECD and Eurostat data, between 1990 and 1998, total R&D expenditure in Greece enjoyed the third highest increase in Europe, after Finland and Ireland.

In 2001, there were 55,626 researchers (from 30,500 in 1993)in such fields as telecommunications, microelectronics, multimedia, computer science, computer networks and software engineering, attracting the interest of many multinational companies and producing an increasing number of high quality publications. Of that number, approximately 33,507 were employed in Higher Education Foundations, 13,100 by private companies, 8,800 in State-owned Research Centres and approximately 200 in non-profit private research centres.

Greece's technology parks with incubator facilities include the Science and Technology Park of Crete (Heraklion), the Thessaloniki Technology Park, the Lavrio Technology Park and the Patras Science Park.

Greece has been a member of the European Space Agency (ESA) since 2005.Cooperation between ESA and the Hellenic National Space Committee began in the early 1990s. In 1994, Greece and ESA signed their first cooperation agreement. Having formally applied for full membership in 2003, Greece became ESA's sixteenth member on March 16 2005. As member of the ESA, Greece participates in the agency's telecommunication and technology activities, and the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security Initiative.

Freedom stems from Valor

RIFLES, SIDEARMS AND SUPPORT WEAPONS
(Weapon; Caliber; Notes)
HK G3; 7.62x51mm NATO; made under license by EAS
M16 rifle; 5.56x45mm NATO; special forces and marines
M4 carbine; 5.56x45mm NATO; special forces and marines)
Colt M1911; 0.45" ACP; Pistol
Glock 17; 9x19mm NATO; special forces and marines
HK MP5; 9x19mm NATO; Submachine Gun
HK 11A1; 7.62x51mm NATO; Squad Weapon
FN MAG; 7.62x51mm NATO; Machine Gun
FN MINIMI; 5.56x45mm NATO; Machine Gun
MG3; 7.62x51mm NATO; Machine Gun
M203; 40x46mm; Grenade Launcher
M79; 40x46mm; Grenade Launcher
HK 69A1; 40x46mm; Grenade Launcher
Barrett M82A1M; 12.7 x 99 mm NATO; special forces and marines
Barrett M95; 12.7 x 99 mm NATO; special forces

HEAVY ARMAMENT
Main Battle Tanks
170; Leopard 2A6HEL; 120mm L55 gun
183; Leopard 2A4; 120mm L44 gun
501; Leopard 1A5; 105mm gun
400; M48A5 MOLF; 105mm gun
300; M60A3 TTS; 105mm gun

Armored Combat Vehicles
Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicles(AIFVs): 415 Marder 1A3;
Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs):
501 Leonidas II made by the Greek vehicle manufacturer ELBO including the 100 upgraded Leonides 1
1,650; M 113A1/A2; Armored Personnel Carrier
Armored Mortar Carriers - below 100mm
3; M125A1 AMC (AMC based on M113, equipped with the M29 (81mm) mortar).
Armored ATGM Carriers:268; M901/M901A1 ITV (armored BGM-71 TOW carrier) based on M113
12; M113 TOW (M113 vehicle mounting a BGM-71 TOW launcher)
Armored Command Vehicles: 105; M577A2 ACV based on M113
Armored Wheeled Vehicles: 240 VBL;

Artillery
Rocket Artillery
36; M270 MLRS; 12x227mm
100x MGM-140A ATACMS Block 1 are also available.
116; RM70; 40x122mm
Self-propelled Artillery
24; PzH 2000; 155mm L52
12; M109A5; 155mm L39
50; M109A3GEA1; 155mm L39
82; M109A2; 155mm L39
51; M109A1B; 155mm L39
145; M110A2; 203mm L40
Towed Artillery
small number; M114A1; 155mm L23
small number; M101; 105mm
18; Mod-56 pack howitzer; 105mm
Armored Mortar Carriers - 100mm and above
256; M106A1/A2 AMC; Armored mortar carrier, based on M113.
(Most vehicles are equipped with the M30 (107mm) mortar but 120 will be equipped with the E-56 (120mm) mortar)
Heavy Mortars - 100mm and above
158; E-56; 120mm (Made by the Greek weapons manufacturer Ellinika Amyntika Systimata)
624; M2/M30; 4.2" (107mm)
256 in use on the M106A1/A2 AMC

Air Defense Artillery

Air Defense - Missile Systems
42; MIM-23B Improved HAWK - Phase III PIP; 7 batteries x 6 missile launchers each, Medium range
21; TOR-M1; SHORAD
39; OSA AK/AKM; SHORAD
54; ASRAD-HELLAS; With 426 FIM-92 Stinger Block 1 missiles.VSHORADS
500; FIM-92B/C Stinger-POST & Stinger Block 1; With 150 trigger mechanisms.MANPADS
Air Defense - Gun Systems
17; Artemis 30; 2x 30x173mm (made by the Greek weapons manufacturer Ellinika Amyntika Systimata)
506; ZU-23-2; 2x 23x152mm (B)
285; Mk20 RH-202; 2x 20x139mm

Heavy Infantry Weapons

Anti-tank Guided Missiles
196; 9M133 Kornet E; ATGM
366; BGM-71 TOW II; ATGM All TOW I have been upgraded to TOW II
290; MILAN; ATGM
262; 9M111 Fagot; ATGM
Anti-tank Recoilless Rifles
1,988; Carl Gustaf M2 Recoilless Rifle; 84mm
1,346; M67 Recoilless Rifle; 90mm To be phased out
1,215; M40A1 Recoilless Rifle; 106mm To be phased out
Anti-tank Rocket launchers
11,000; RPG-18; 64mm
10,841; M72A2 LAW; 66mm
135; LRAC 89mm STRIM; 89mm
Medium and Light Mortars - bellow 100mm
470; E-44E1; 81mm, Made by the Greek weapons manufacturer Ellinika Amyntika Systimata
125; M6C-210 Commando; 60mm, Produced by the Greek weapons manufacturer Ellinika Amyntika Systimata under license from Hirtenberger of Austria.
Automatic Grenade Launchers
633; HK GMG; 40x53mm
300; MK19 Mod3; 40x53mm, Special Forces

Other Armored Vehicles

Medical Evacuation Vehicles: 54; M 113A1 MEDEVAC;
Combat Engineering Vehicles: 14; Pionierpanzer 2 Dachs; Combat Engineering Vehicle based on Leopard-1 chassis.
Armored Vehicle-launched Bridges:
8; Leopard-1 Leguan; Armored Vehicle-launched Bridge based on Leopard-1 chassis.
10; Leopard-1 Biber; Armored Vehicle-launched Bridge based on Leopard-1 chassis.
12; M60A1 AVLB; Armored Vehicle-launched Bridge based on M60A1 chassis.
22; M48A5 AVLB; Armored Vehicle-launched Bridge based on M48A5 chassis.
Armored Recovery Vehicles
23; Leopard II ER BUFALO; Armored Recovery Vehicle based on Leopard-2 chassis.
12; Leopard-1 ARV; Armored Recovery Vehicle based on Leopard-1 chassis.
95; M88A1; Armored Recovery Vehicle of the Patton tanks family.
Armored Demining Vehicles: 10; Leopard-1V MP; Armored Demining Vehicle based on Leopard-1 chassis. A Full Width Mine Plough (FWMP) from Pearson Engineering was added.

Aircraft/Rotorcraft inventory
Aircraft; Type; Versions; In service; Notes
Bell 205; utility helicopter; UH-1H Iroquois (54)&AB 205(31); more than 100 delivered
Bell 206; utility helicopter; AB 206B-3; 14; built by Agusta
Bell 212; VIP; AB 212 VIP; 1; built by Agusta
Boeing AH-64 Apache; attack helicopter; AH-64A+ (20)&AH-64DHA(12); upgraded
Boeing CH-47 Chinook; transport helicopter; CH-47DG/SD; 15;
Cessna 180; utility; U-17A; 14;
NHI NH90; transport helicopter; 20
SAGEM Sperwer; reconnaissance UAV; 8 air vehicles
Schweizer 300; training helicopter; 300C; 17;

Always Dominate the Heights

Aircraft inventory

(Aircraft and Helicopters; Origin; Type; Versions; In service; Total Numbers; Notes)
Alenia C-27J Spartan; Italy; Transport; C-27J; 12;
Lockheed C-130 Hercules; United States; Transport; C-130B (5)&C-130H (10)
C-47 Skytrain; United States; Transport; C-47D; 2; ;
Gulfstream V; United States; VIP Transport; G500; 1; ;
Embraer ERJ-135; Brazil; VIP Transport; ERJ-135ER; 2; ;
Embraer EMB-145; Brazil; Airborne Early Warning (AEW&C); EMB-145SA; 4; ; also known as "Ericsson Erieye"
EAB Pegasus; Greece; Reconnaissance (RUAV); ; 5; ; Unmanned Aerial Vehicles;
Lockheed P-3 Orion; United States; Maritime Patrol; P-3B; 4; ; 2 more retired and used for spare parts;
McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom;United States; Fighter F-4E PI2000 (35) & Reconnaissance RF-4E(21); 56; ;
Vought A-7 Corsair II; United States; Ground Attack; different versions; 85;
Dassault Mirage 2000; France; Fighter; different versions; 45;
Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcon; United States; Fighter; different versions; 140;
Cessna 172 Skyhawk; United States; Trainer; T-41D; 20; ; ;
Beechcraft T-6 Texan II; United States; Trainer; T-6A; 45; ; ;
Rockwell T-2 Buckeye; United States; Trainer; different versions; 40; ;
Canadair CL-215; Canada; Firefighting; ; 13; ; ;
Canadair CL-415; Canada; Firefighting; 415GR; 10; ; ;
PZL-Mielec M-18 Dromader; Poland; Firefighting; different versions; 22; ;
Grumman Ag Cat; United States; Firefighting; G-164A; 11; ; ;
Agusta A109; Italy; MEDEVAC Helicopter; A-109 Power; 3; ; ;
Eurocopter Cougar; France; Combat SAR & SAR Helicopter; different versions; 10; also known as "Super Puma";
Bell 212; Italy; VIP Helicopter; Bell-212; 4; ; ;
Bell 205; Italy; SAR Helicopter; AB-205; 11; ; built by Agusta;
Bell 47; United States; Utility Helicopter; 47G; 7; ; ;

Weapons Inventory
Deployed ARTEMIS 30 Anti-aircraft system - manufactered by HDS (Hellenic Defence Systems)
PATRIOT PAC III Missiles Launching SystemAIM-120B/C5 AMRAAM : 240/150
AIM-9 Sidewinder -M : 165
AIM-9 Sidewinder -L : 647
AIM-9 Sidewinder -P4 (upgraded P3 and J-Sidewinder) : 1.000
MBDA MICA : 300
IRIS-T : 350
R550 Magic-2 : 303
Exocet AM-39 Block 2 : 39
SCALP EG : 90
AFDS : 70
AGM-65G : 200
AGM-65A/B : 200+
AGM-88 HARMB Block IIIA : 84
GBU-8B HOBOS : 96
GBU-12 Paveway II : 1.162 , including GBU-16
GBU-16 Paveway II
GBU-24 Paveway III :200
GBU-27 Paveway III

Anti-aircraft Systems
Patriot PAC III AA missile system : 6 Batterries / 36 Launchers / 198 Missiles
S-300 PMU1 & PMU2 AA missile system : 2 Batteries / 8 Launchers / 96 Missiles
SKYGUARD/VELOS AA system : 20 Launchers / 280 Missiles / 24 Oerlikon Guns
Crotale NG/GR AA missile system : 9 Launchers
TOR M1 AA missile system : 4 Launchers
Stinger portable AA missile : unknown number of Launcers / 300 Missiles
Artemis 30 30 mm AA guns : 38
Rheinmetall 20 mm AA guns : 326
20 additional F-16C Block 52+
10 F-16D Block 52+ aircraft .

Also, the purchase of modern fourth generation fighters is likely to follow due to the A-7 Corsairs being gradually retired from service. The prime candidates are the Eurofighter Typhoon , the F-35 Lightning II (Joint Strike Fighter) and the French Rafale.

The Sea's Great State

Fleet
Frigates
• 4 × Frigates Class Meko-200HN
• 10 × Frigates Class Standard Kortenaer-class
Fast Attack Guided Missile Vessels
• 5 × Super-Vita
• 4 × La Combattante III
• 5 × La Combattante IIIb
• 6 × La Combattante IIA
Submarines

Type 209 submarine
• 4 × Glaukos class (Type 209 (1100) Submarine - Neptune I upgrade)
• 4 × Poseidon class (Type 209 (1200) Submarine - Neptune II upgrade)
• 1 × Papanikolis class (Type 214 Submarine)
3 more under construction by the Hellenic Shipyards Co.:
Landing Vessels
• 5 × Landing Ships Jason Class (LST)
• 4 × Heavy Landing Ships
• 4 × Hovercraft Landing Ships Class Zubr/Pomornik (LCAC)
Gunboats

• 3 × Gunboats Class Thetis
• 4 × Gunboats Class Osprey 55
• 4 × Gunboats Class Osprey HSY-56A
• 2 × Asheville Class Gunboat
Minesweepers / Mine-Layers
• 6 × Minesweepers - Coastal
• 2 × Mine-Sweepers / Hunters Class Hunt
• 2 × Minesweepers - Coastal Osprey class coastal mine hunters

6 × Coastline Patrol Vessels - Type Nasty
6 × Warer Tankers
4 × Oil Tankers
4 × Personel Transport Vessels
5 Maritime Research & Oceanography Vessels
Auxiliary Vessels
• 1 × AOR Etna class
• 1 × ATV Artilery Transport Vessel
• 2 × Light-tower Vessels
• 2 × Luneburg Type 701C class, Replenishment Ships

Aircraft inventory
Aircraft; Origin; Type; Versions; In service; Notes
Aérospatiale Alouette III; France; Helicopter; SA 319B; 2;
Bell 212; Italy; Anti-submarine Helicopter; AB 212ASW; 8; plus 2 in reserve
Lockheed P-3 Orion; United States; Maritime Patrol; P-3B; 4;
Sikorsky S-70; United States; Naval Helicopter; S-70B-6/-B; 11; Also known as "Aegean Hawk"

Different characters important to the plot will be described here