U.S. will give Greece 400 tanks Abrams
The Ministry of Defense of Greece is considering a U.S. proposal for the donation of main battle tanks, M1A1 Abrams, tells Defense News. We are talking about machines that are on long-term storage in Nevada. According to the Army of Greece Yiannis Sifakisa (Yiannis Sifakis), Greece to accept the gift of 400 tanks, paying only their transportation, the cost is estimated at eight million euros.
U.S. offers to donate extra tanks in Greece for a second time. The first proposal was announced in 2010, but then Greek military was abandoned. The reason for the agreement at this time was a serious lack of the defense budget. According Sifakisa, representatives of the army had already arrived in the United States to inspect and select the tanks. Abrams, proposed by Greece, participated in the Persian Gulf War in 1990 - 1991, respectively.
In 2010, Greece credit crisis erupted - the country was unable to service foreign debt and asked for financial help to the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. To reduce costs the military budget came under serious decline - this year it amounted to a total of 600 million euros against 5.73 billion euros in 2010. Due to the reduction of the Greek Defense Ministry was forced to cancel the procurement program of tanks, frigates and destroyers.
At the 2012 budget of the Ministry of Defense of Greece was set at one billion euros, but the Defense Ministry has already announced its intention to reduce expenses next year by 1.4 percent.
Obama chose the main theme of his presidential campaign
U.S. President Barack Obama, speaking in Kansas, said that growing income inequality threatens middle-class Americans to the country. It is reported by The New York Times.
According to the American press, opposition to further social stratification and the protection of the middle class elected Obama as the main theme of his presidential campaign.
As the President, now solved the question of whether America is a country where people can earn enough for his family, to create a modest savings, buy homes and to provide for themselves in retirement.
As highlighted in the publication of The Washington Post, Obama gave his speech in a small town Osavatomi (Osawatomie), where in 1910 the ex-President Theodore Roosevelt offered to set out its views on the role of the state. In particular he stated that only a strong central government can protect ordinary Americans from the greed of big business.
Candidates applying to the presidential nomination of the Republican Party, however, declare their intention to reduce powers of the federal government.
According to the Congressional Budget Office U.S., one percent of Americans are the richest people in the country over the past 30 years more than doubled its share in national income. It has grown from 8 percent to 17 percent.
Iceland has recognized the independence of Palestine
Iceland's parliament on Tuesday declared the state of Palestine within the 1967 borders, the Foreign Minister of Iceland Essur Skarphedinsson. About this newspaper "Haaretz".
Iceland became the first country in Western Europe to recognize the independence of Palestine.
The decision on the recognition of Palestinian support for 38 of the 63 deputies of the Parliament of Iceland.
"At the same time, Iceland's parliament called on Israel and Palestine to come to a peace agreement in the framework of international law and UN resolutions, according to which equally recognized the independence of both Israel and Palestine," - said in a statement the Foreign Minister of Iceland.
In late October, was adopted by the Palestine to UNESCO, and then refused to fund the organization of the United States, Canada and Israel. In this regard, UNESCO had to close and cut the budgets of programs that are related to "non-essential travel, conferences and publications."
After the declaration of acceptance of Palestine to UNESCO, the Israeli authorities have indicated that the pace of construction of 814 houses in East Jerusalem, Palestine, which considers its own territory and wants to make their future capital, will be accelerated.
Earlier in Israel's construction of homes in the area was a moratorium.
