Flags of Greece

The national flag of Greece consists of white and blue strips with a cross. Blue colour symbolizes the sky, white colour means hope in the struggle for independence of the country. The number of the strips (9) on the flag corresponds to the nine geographical areas of Greece: the Central Greece, Thessaly, Macedonia, Epirus, Thrace, Peloponess, Crete, Ionian islands, islands in the Egey Sea. The flag in the present appearance exists since 1862. The State Emblem of Greece is represented in the form of a shield with the Greek silver cross. The cross on the flag and the coat of arms is a symbol of rescue of Greece from the enthralment by its overseas aggressors.

In 1981 Greece has entered in the European Community, and it has received the first socialist government, promised to clean from the territory of the country the military bases of the USA and to leave NATO, which Greece has joined in 1951. For six years of board these promises have not been executed: the percent of unemployed remained high, and reforms in the field of education and social security - insignificant. In 1994 Greece has imposed a trading embargo on the newly republic of Macedonia and having made a complaint to Macedonia for use in its name the name of historical Greek area, began to deny the fact of existence of Slavic Macedonian minority in the territory of Greece as well.