President Morsi met Thursday with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, holding bilateral talks over the Palestinian question and the Syrian crisis.
“We have discussed Egyptian efforts to achieve Palestinian reconciliation. We have agreed that Palestinians from different factions will meet in Egypt next week to continue their talks on reconciliation,” Morsi said during a press conference today with Gul.
He added that talks have also explored efforts to end the settlement issues on the occupied Palestinian territories and the occupation of Gaza Strip.
Read more: Morsi holds talks with Gul over Palestine, Syria - Daily News Egypt
Showing posts with label Economy. Turkey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Economy. Turkey. Show all posts
7/27/12
The Greek Military Budget Offers Plenty of Room for Cuts - by Georgios Christidis
Greece is struggling to achieve the deep cuts demanded by its international creditors. But the country's military budget still offers plenty of room for trimming. Athens, though, has refrained from tackling the primary problem: too many soldiers and too many military bases.
Costly armament purchases are, of course, part of the equation. According to the independent Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Greece has spent much of the 2000s as one of the top five arms importers globally, lavishly spending on new submarines, tanks and fighter jets. Just last year, the country spent €4.6 billion on defense, representing 2.1 percent of its economic output. European NATO members, by contrast, spent an average of 1.6 percent, Germany just 1.4 percent.
In light of the crisis, Defense Minister Panagiotopoulos has pledged to reorganize the Greek military structure, cut operational costs and shut down non-performing bases. But he had also hoped to hire more professional soldiers with the goal of gradually transforming the Greek army into a largely professional force.
Note EU-Digest: why does Greece need such an elaborate costly army? To protect themselves from what, Turkey? What nonsense.
Read more: The Greek Military Budget Offers Plenty of Room for Cuts - SPIEGEL ONLINE
Costly armament purchases are, of course, part of the equation. According to the independent Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Greece has spent much of the 2000s as one of the top five arms importers globally, lavishly spending on new submarines, tanks and fighter jets. Just last year, the country spent €4.6 billion on defense, representing 2.1 percent of its economic output. European NATO members, by contrast, spent an average of 1.6 percent, Germany just 1.4 percent.
In light of the crisis, Defense Minister Panagiotopoulos has pledged to reorganize the Greek military structure, cut operational costs and shut down non-performing bases. But he had also hoped to hire more professional soldiers with the goal of gradually transforming the Greek army into a largely professional force.
Note EU-Digest: why does Greece need such an elaborate costly army? To protect themselves from what, Turkey? What nonsense.
Read more: The Greek Military Budget Offers Plenty of Room for Cuts - SPIEGEL ONLINE
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