Libya threatens to bomb N Korea-flagged oil tanker if it ignores Navy orders

Libya will bomb a North Korea-flagged oil tanker trying to load crude at an eastern port controlled by armed protesters if the vessel fails to follow orders from the Navy, Prime Minister Ali Zeidan said on Saturday.

"The tanker will be bombed if it doesn't follow orders when leaving (the port). This will be an environmental disaster," Zeidan told reporters, calling the docking of the tanker a criminal act violating Libyan's sovereignty.

Authorities had ordered the arrest of the tanker's crew, he said. His comments were the first government reaction since the tanker reached Es Sider port, where protesters earlier said they had started exporting oil, bypassing Tripoli.

Voice of Russia, Reuters
http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_03_08/Libya-threatens-to-bomb-N-Korea-flagged-oil-tanker-if-it-ignores-Navy-orders-8327/
8/3/14

Turkish-Greek partnership brings mastic products to Turkey

The company ‘Akdenizli’ (Mediterranean), founded by Turkish Ahmet Müderrisoğlu and his Greek partner Yannis Botsaris, introduces the mastic resin products to the Turkish market...

Yannis Botsaris, a Greek businessmen working in China, met his future business partner, Ahmet Müderrisoğlu, when his interest in marble from the inner Aegean province of Afyon brought him to Turkey. As the friendship developed, Botsaris asked his friend what he could bring from Greece. As Müderrisoğlu and his wife were fond of mastic resin-based products, it became customary for Botsaris to bring them each time he came to Turkey.

Now, however, the pair isn’t just hoping that the Müderrisoğlus will be fond of the resin, as the partners are banking that there is a wider Turkish appetite for the product, whose use stretches back to antiquity.

Chios Mastikha is the natural resin secreted from the trunk and branches of the schinos, the Greek name for the mastic tree.

Sultan Selim II was said to be fond of it. When he came to the throne, one of his first instructions was to procure mastic resin produced on Chios Island, right across from the Aegean town of Çeşme, to the palace, according to Müderrisoğlu. 

‘Miracle product’

It became the “miracle” product of the palace’s cuisine and was used as a beauty product in the Harem, as well as for healing purposes by doctors.

In time, the use of mastic resin decreased and products based on its aroma were used because of their inexpensive nature.

“It is like waking up an old taste from its sleep,” said Müderrisoğlu.

“We have a lot of work to do to establish the mastic resin culture here in Turkey,” Botsaris said at a recent dinner organized for journalists, where the menu included dishes with mastic resin.

Botsaris and Müderrisoğlu have set up the company “Akdenizli” (Mediterranean) to introduce the mastic resin products to the Turkish market.

• Chios Mastikha was recognized in ancient times as much for its distinctive flavor as for its therapeutic properties. Documents show it was the first natural chewing gum of the ancient world to clean teeth and freshen the breath.

Nowadays, the scientific community has come to corroborate and document the therapeutic functions of Chios Mastikha. It has now been scientifically proven that it displays beneficial action against digestive disorders, contributes to oral hygiene, displays significant antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory action, is a natural antioxidant and also aids in trauma healing and skin regeneration, according to information provided by the men’s business, the Mastikha Shop.

Exported from Greece
Currently, Chios Mastikha is exported from Greece throughout the world for use in the production of a wide range of products, including baked goods, sweets, preserves, ice cream, chocolate, chewing gum, candy, pasta, sauces, liqueur, ouzo, wine, dietary supplements, oral hygiene products, scented candles, essential oils and resin-based adhesives. 
hurriyetdailynews.com

February/19/2014

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Related:

• ΜΑΣΤΙΧΑ ΧΙΟΥ: «Τα δάκρυα του Αιγαίου»

• Χίος: η επόμενη μέρα

• Οι 5 οικολογικές πληγές που άφησαν πίσω τους οι πυρκαγιές

• Η ΕΣΕΕ προτείνει μέτρα ανακούφισης των επιχειρηματιών στο νησί της Χίου

• Χίος: Στάχτη το 40% των μαστιχοκαλλιεργειών

Third shipment of chemical weapons leaves Syria...

The third shipment of Syrian chemical weapons has taken place, the Reuters news agency reports on Monday citing an OPCW statement.

The Dutch and Norwegian vessels Ark Futura and Taiko have been taking away the Syrian chemical arsenal from the port of Latakia since January 7. Two consignments were already completed.

According to an initial plan, the toxic cargo had to be removed from Syria before December 31, 2013, but due to the unstable situation in the country, it didn’t happen.

In line with the OPCW schedule, around 20,000 tons of toxic mustard gas have to be taken away until March 31, 2014, and the entire chemical arsenal has to be destroyed by the end of 2014.
 http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_02_10/Third-shipment-of-chemical-weapons-taken-away-from-Syria-7650/
10/2/14
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Related:

• Απάντηση ΥΦΥΠΕΞ Δ. Κούρκουλα σε Επίκαιρη Ερώτηση για Καταστροφή Χημικού Οπλοστασίου Συρίας. -Ελληνικό ΥΠΕΞ

•  US-Spezialschiff zur Vernichtung syrischer C-Waffen kommende Woche im Mittelmeer erwartet...

• ΥΠΕΞ: Συνέχιση διπλωματικών πρωτοβουλιών Αντιπροέδρου της Κυβέρνησης και ΥΠΕΞ Ευ. Βενιζέλου για την προστασία της Μεσογείου από τη διαδικασία καταστροφής του χημικού οπλοστασίου της Συρίας.

• ΥΠΕΞ: Ανακοίνωση Υπουργείου Εξωτερικών για το ζήτημα της καταστροφής των χημικών όπλων του συριακού οπλοστασίου

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• Chemical waste worries Cretans. -Syrian chemical weapons arsenal to be destroyed in Mediterranean waters

Chemical waste worries Cretans. -Syrian chemical weapons arsenal to be destroyed in Mediterranean waters

Maja Jovic

The World Council of Cretans last week expressed its opposition and outrage to the proposed and 'secretly planned' destruction of chemical weapons from Syria in the Mediterranean sea areas west of Crete.
The response comes as the internationally praised August deal between the USA and Russia, to destroy the Syrian chemical arsenal, failed. The chemicals were meant to be transferred outside Syria by the end of December 2013 and destroyed by June 2014.
With the December deadline already missed, discussions now suggest the possibility of chemical waste being dumped in the Mediterranean, in an area between Crete, Malta and Libya. This scenario is becoming likelier since Italy has promised to offer a port for the two Danish and Norwegian ships which will transport the lethal chemical weapons.

The president of the World Council of Cretans, Tony Tsourdalakis, told Neos Kosmos that the council condemns this decision that could have a catastrophic impact on the island.
"We condemn the decision of the respective government to dump the Syrian chemicals to the South of Crete in the Mediterranean Sea. This is a catastrophic decision of huge proportions, that will not only harm sea life, but will possibly cause health and contamination issues. Most importantly, it will deter tourists from the south coastal beaches of Crete, putting a large dint in the Greek tourist industry," he told Neos Kosmos.

Mr Tsourdalakis said the council believed that responsibility for the preservation and destruction of the chemical weapons lies with the countries of production that supplied the weapons to Syria.
"Certainly this was not Greece. The World Council of Cretans - and in particular the 500 Cretan organisations globally and one million Cretans in and out of Crete - express their utmost concerns and condemn these actions. We urge the Greek government, via its role in the United Nations and in light of the fact that it has the European presidency, to request that this dangerous, criminal and unacceptable action ceases immediately."
"We unite our voice with the voice of all Greeks to stop this crime that will certainly affect the health of nearby countries and even more Greece," he said.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has estimated that about 1,300 tons of chemical weapons, most of which are mustard gas based, will be destroyed via hydrolysis.
In the light of concerns over the environmental and health impact of the planned destruction of Syria's chemical arsenal in international waters west of Chania, intense concerns and opposition were expressed by the Medical Association of Chania.

"The procedure to be followed has not been elucidated completely and could possibly pose serious risks to the ecosystem of the region and the bordering regions, such as Chania. In particular, the reported hydrolysis process is not sufficient for complete inactivation of the derivatives of the quantities of chemical weapons of Syria to be destroyed," it was said in the statement.
The Medical Association of Chania urged the United Nations and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Use of Chemical Weapons, the two organisations responsible for the destruction process of those chemicals, to adjust their schedules and to provide ultimate safety in the areas of chemical processing.
 http://neoskosmos.com/news/en/chemical-waste-worries-cretans
24/1/14
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Related:
 

• Massive protests in Italy due to arrival of toxic cargo from Syria 

• ΥΠΕΞ: Ανακοίνωση Υπουργείου Εξωτερικών για το ζήτημα της καταστροφής των χημικών όπλων του συριακού οπλοστασίου

• Italian mayors want guarantees on Syrian chemical transfer

• First chemical materials removed from Syria by ship

• Danish, Norwegian ships leave Limassol port for Syrian seacoast

• Nordic ships on call for Syria chemical shipment...

• Vessels for Syrian Chemical Arms Removal Dock in Cyprus

• OPCW Executive Council adopts plan for the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons programme in the first half of 2014

Syria signs offshore oil deal with Russian firm...

Syria’s government said Wednesday it had signed an oil and gas deal with a Russian company, prompting claims from the Syrian opposition that Damascus is “swapping the country’s riches for Russian weapons”.

The agreement was signed by Syrian Oil Minister Suleiman Abbas and the Russian Soyuzneftegaz company, allows for the first-ever exploration off the war-ravaged country’s Mediterranean coast.

The exploration will cover an area of 2,190 square kilometres (850 square miles) off the Mediterranean port city of Tartous, where Russia also has a military base.

Damascus said the exploration would be financed by Russia to the tune of $100 million over the next 25 years.

Blighted industry

The deal is a boost for the Syrian government, which has lost control over roughly half of the country’s territory, including most of its oil fields.

Through war and sanctions, Syria's oil production has plummeted by 90 percent since the start of the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad in March 2011.

“Soyuzneftegaz will start working soon after the contract is signed. The company will not follow the unfair economic sanctions imposed on oil fields especially, as well as on all economic sectors in Syria,” Syria’s Oil Minister Suleiman Abbas told reporters.

‘Oil for weapons’

• The agreement between Moscow and Damascus was swiftly denounced by Syria’s main opposition group, the Syrian National Coalition (SNC).

In a statement published on Thursday, the CNS slammed a deal “which aims to swap the riches of our homeland for Russian weapons destined to kill the Syrian people”. Despite the escalating violence in Syria, Moscow has continued to supply weapons to its Syrian ally and repeatedly thwarted attempts to take action against the Assad regime at the UN Security Council.
france24.com
26/12/13
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United States offers to destroy Syria’s Priority Chemicals./Σε πλοίο των ΗΠΑ θα καταστραφουν κάποια χημικά

OPCW receives expressions of interest from 35 private companies to destroy other Syrian chemicals

In a statement to the OPCW Executive Council on Friday 29 November 2013, Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü announced that the United States has offered to contribute a destruction technology, full operational support and financing to neutralise Syria’s priority chemicals, which are to be removed from the country by 31 December.

The Director-General stated that the neutralisation operations will be conducted on a U.S. vessel at sea using hydrolysis. Currently a suitable naval vessel is undergoing modifications to support the operations and to accommodate verification activities by the OPCW.

Regarding the destruction of Syria’s inventory of other chemicals, including common industrial ones - which constitute a significant part of Syria’s declaration - the Director-General said the OPCW has to date received 35 expressions of interest (EOI) from commercial companies, which will now undergo evaluation. This number may change during the tender process, he noted, stressing that the OPCW “is at the preliminary stage of ascertaining the availability of suitable candidate companies.”

The companies bidding for participation in the disposal process will be required to comply with all applicable international and national regulations pertaining to safety and the environment.

With the regard to the special Trust Fund which the OPCW has established for the destruction activities to be done by private companies, the Director-General encouraged States Parties to make their contributions.

”Before we can launch any tender process we must be certain that we have sufficient funds available to meet the costs of destruction,” the Director-General stated. He invited Member States to also consider providing in-kind contributions by contracting companies to conduct destruction activities.
https://www.opcw.org/news/article/united-states-offers-to-destroy-syrias-priority-chemicals/
30/11/13
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• OPCW Executive Council adopts plan for the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons programme in the first half of 2014

• Τοξική Βόμβα στη Μεσόγειο τα Χημικά της Συρίας.

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 Ένα τμήμα του χημικού οπλοστασίου της Συρίας, ιδιαιτέρως χημικές ουσίες που η εξουδετέρωσή τους κρίνεται ότι συνιστά "προτεραιότητα", θα καταστραφεί στη θάλασσα πάνω σε ένα πλοίο που ανήκει στις ΗΠΑ, ανακοίνωσε σήμερα ο Οργανισμός για την Απαγόρευση των Χημικών Όπλων (ΟΑΧΟ). Οι ΗΠΑ προσφέρθηκαν για την καταστροφή μέρους του χημικού οπλοστασίου της Συρίας πάνω σε ένα αμερικανικό πλοίο και αναζητούν ένα κατάλληλο λιμάνι στη Μεσόγειο όπου μπορεί να γίνει η επεξεργασία αυτή, προσθέτει σε σχετική ανακοίνωσή του ο ΟΑΧΟ.
  "Ο γενικός διευθυντής (του ΟΑΧΟ) δήλωσε ότι επιχειρήσεις εξουδετέρωσης (των χημικών όπλων) θα γίνουν στη θάλασσα πάνω σε ένα πλοίο των ΗΠΑ με τη χρήση της τεχνικής της υδρόλυσης", διευκρινίζει στην ανακοίνωσή του ο διεθνής οργανισμός, ο οποίος εδρεύει στη Χάγη. Ο ΟΑΧΟ βρισκόταν υπό πίεση για να βρει ένα εναλλακτικό σχέδιο για την καταστροφή του χημικού οπλοστασίου της Συρίας μετά την άρνηση της Αλβανίας να φιλοξενήσει το έργο αυτό. Σύμφωνα με τον ΟΑΧΟ, συνολικά 35 εταιρείες εκδήλωσαν ενδιαφέρον ως τη χθεσινή διορία που είχε δοθεί για τη σύναψη εμπορικών συμβολαίων για την καταστροφή περίπου 800 τόνων ακατέργαστων βιομηχανικών χημικών προϊόντων, η καταστροφή των οποίων μπορεί να γίνει με ασφάλεια σε εμπορικούς αποτεφρωτήρες. Όμως άλλοι περίπου 500 τόνοι χημικών, στους οποίους περιλαμβάνονται νευροπαραλυτικά αέρια, θεωρούνται πολύ επικίνδυνοι για να εισαχθούν σε μια χώρα ή να υποβληθούν σε επεξεργασία από εταιρείες και θα καταστραφούν στη θάλασσα πάνω στο αμερικανικό πλοίο. Ο ΟΑΧΟ διευκρίνισε ότι η επιχείρηση αυτή θα γίνει πάνω σε ένα αμερικανικό πλοίο στη θάλασσα με τη χρήση της μεθόδου της υδρόλυσης και πρόσθεσε ότι ένα πλοίο υποβάλλεται σε τροποποιήσεις για να μπορεί να υποστηρίξει τις επιχειρήσεις αυτές. "Ένα πλοίο βρίσκεται στο στάδιο της τροποποίησης για να μπορεί να υποδεχθεί τις επιχειρήσεις αυτές και να υποστηρίξει τις επιχειρήσεις επαλήθευσης του ΟΑΧΟ", προσθέτει ο οργανισμός στην ανακοίνωσή του. "Οι ΗΠΑ προσφέρθηκαν να συμβάλουν προσφέροντας μια τεχνολογία καταστροφής, πλήρη επιχειρησιακή υποστήριξη και χρηματοδότηση για την εξουδετέρωση χημικών της Συρίας που συνιστούν προτεραιότητα", καταλήγει ο ΟΑΧΟ στην ανακοίνωσή του.  

Τα πιο επικίνδυνα συριακά χημικά όπλα αναμένεται να έχουν μεταφερθεί εκτός της Συρίας πριν από την 31η Δεκεμβρίου, βάσει μιας συμφωνίας του εκτελεστικού συμβουλίου του ΟΑΧΟ που συνήφθη στα μέσα Νοεμβρίου. Τότε το εκτελεστικό συμβούλιο του διεθνούς οργανισμού είχε υιοθετήσει έναν οδικό χάρτη για την καταστροφή του συριακού χημικού οπλοστασίου ως τα μέσα του 2014, ο οποίος περιλαμβάνει ένα σχέδιο το οποίο αναφέρει με λεπτομέρεια τις πιθανές μεθόδους που μπορούν να χρησιμοποιηθούν για την καταστροφή των όπλων αυτών, εκτός της Συρίας, στη στεριά ή τη θάλασσα.  

Ωστόσο, παρά τη συναίνεση για την καταστροφή του συριακού χημικού οπλοστασίου εκτός της χώρας αυτής που βρίσκεται σε πόλεμο, καμία χώρα δεν έχει δεχθεί μέχρι σήμερα αυτό να γίνει στο έδαφός της. Η πλειονότητα των λοιπών χημικών όπλων και των πρόδρομων χημικών προϊόντων που αποτελούν μέρος της σύνθεσης τοξικών προϊόντων, με εξαίρεση την ισοπροπανόλη, η οποία μπορεί να χρησιμοποιηθεί στην παρασκευή αερίου σαρίν, θα έχουν απομακρυνθεί από την Συρία ως τις 5 Φεβρουαρίου του 2014, σύμφωνα με τον ΟΑΧΟ.  

Την ίδια ώρα η καταστροφή των εγκαταστάσεων παραγωγής που έχουν δηλωθεί από τις συριακές αρχές θα γίνει από τις 15 Δεκεμβρίου φέτος ως τις 15 Μαρτίου του 2014, σύμφωνα και πάλι με το διεθνή οργανισμό.
 politisnews.eu 
30/11/13
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MV Cape Ray

Egypt says not interested in Israeli gas as plans LNG imports...

Egypt is not interested in importing gas via pipeline from Israel and instead is focusing on a plan to import liquefied natural gas, a top Egyptian state executive said in the night of Oct. 23.

Israel’s energy and water minister said this week that it could supply Egypt with gas through a pipeline that already links them.

To receive LNG shipments, Egypt must rent a floating terminal, which it aims to have in operation by April after issuing a tender earlier this month.

“For importing the LNG we are working with companies, not with countries,” Taher Abdel Rahim, chairman of state-run Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), told Reuters.


“Companies like BP, Shell, BG - those are the companies working on importing LNG,” he added.

Egypt’s LNG plan is likely to be more expensive than piping gas from Israel due to the cost of erecting the terminal and the higher prices LNG fetches in the global spot market.

Spot LNG in the east Mediterranean region is currently priced around $12.00 per million British thermal units, and pipeline deliveries from Israel are likely to be cheaper.

The pipeline was originally built to carry Egyptian gas to Israel and Jordan.

In April Egypt terminated a 20-year deal to supply gas to Israel, citing a business dispute. The deal, signed when President Hosni Mubarak was in charge, was unpopular with many Egyptians.

• The pipeline has been attacked more than a dozen times since the 2011 uprising that toppled Mubarak.

Since the deal was first signed, Egypt’s gas output has declined, while large reserves of gas have been discovered off Israel’s.

• In August, Avner Oil & Gas said the group of energy companies that found the gas was studying options to export it to Egypt as well as to Jordan, the Palestinian Authority and Europe via a pipeline to Turkey.

Silvan Shalom, Israel’s energy and water minister, said on Oct. 22 that Egypt was “showing interest in buying gas from Israel.

“If they will indeed want gas and (their interest) is real, then I don’t see any reason why not,” he told Israel’s Army Radio.

EGAS’s Abdel Rahim said, however, “There is no negotiation, no communication, nothing at all between us and them.” 
 hurriyetdailynews.com
24/10/13

Ισχυρός σεισμός δυτικά από τα Χανιά 6.4M - Μετασεισμοί 3.4 - 4.1M / Quake of 6.4 magnitude detected west of Crete.

Ισχυρή σεισμική δόνηση 6.4 Ρίχτερ σύμφωνο με το Ευρωμεσογειακό Ινστιτούτο σημειώθηκε στις 4:12 με επίκεντρο 64 χιλιόμετρα δυτικά από τα Χανιά.

Η σεισμική δόνηση ήταν μεγάλης διάρκειας και έγινε ιδιαίτερα αισθητή σε όλη τη νότια Ελλάδα.

Σύμφωνε με Κρητικά ΜΜΕ, ο σεισμός ήταν ιδιαίτερα μεγάλης διάρκειας και σημειώθηκε στη θαλάσσια περιοχή μεταξύ Καστελίου Κισσάμου και Αντικηθύρων.

Το εστιακό του βάθος ήταν 23 χιλιόμετρα σύμφωνα με το Γεωδυναμικό Ινστιτούτο του Εθνικού Αστεροσκοπείου Αθηνών και 47 χιλιόμετρα σύμφωνα με το  Ευρωμεσογειακό Ινστιτούτο.
12/10/13

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• Quake of 6.4 magnitude detected west of Crete

An earthquake of 6.4 magnitude was detected in the Mediterranean Sea west of the island of Crete on Saturday, but there were no reports of casualties or damage, the Greek police and fire brigade said.
The center of the quake, which struck at 1311 GMT, was 22.5 miles below the seabed 43 miles west of Chania on Crete, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
12/10/13
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M 6.4 - CRETE, GREECE - 2013-10-12 13:11:54 UTC...... local time: 16:11.....64 km W of Chaniá...

Magnitude Mw 6.4 Region CRETE, GREECE Date time 2013-10-12 13:11:54.0 UTC Location 35.56 N ; 23.31 E Depth 47 km Distances 271 km S of Athens, Greece / pop: 729,137 / local time: 16:11:54.0 2013-10-12 168 km W of Irákleion, Greece / pop: 137,154 / local time: 16:11:54.0 2013-10-12 64 km W of Chaniá, Greece / pop: 54,565 / local time: 16:11:54.0 2013-10-12 28 km W of Plátanos, Greece / pop: 1,077 / local time: 16:11:54.0 2013-10-12

Source parameters reviewed by a seismologist


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Μετασεισμοι 5:15......3.4-4.1Μ

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 Μετασεισμοί ώρα,6:30

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Γεωδυναμικό Ινστιτούτο του Εθνικού Αστεροσκοπείου Αθηνών