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AHI President Larigakis Talks With Greek Business Publication

                                                                                                                                       No. 54

WASHINGTON, DC — Greek Business File, a magazine that analyzes Greece’s business and financial sectors, published an interview with American Hellenic Institute (AHI) President Nick Larigakis. The interview, “Promising turns in Greek-American relations” is published in Greek Business File’s October-November 2018 issue and comes on the eve of the USA-Thessaloniki International Fair, which is being held September 8-16, 2018.

Larigakis provides his perspective on the current state of U.S.-Greece relations, which he views as being at its peak. He attributed his view to Greece’s demonstrated consistency as a reliable partner to the U.S., especially when it comes to U.S. security interests.  Larigakis contrasted Greece’s reliability as a security partner with that of Turkey’s unreliability over the years.  In addition, the AHI president discussed the importance of NSA Souda Bay, and Greece’s role in the emerging alliance with Cyprus and Israel as frontline, Western-oriented states against threats to democracy and security in the Eastern Mediterranean and broader region.

Larigakis also cited how the United States helped Greece face its economic crisis as an example of the depth of scope of U.S-Greece relations and that it is not solely based on security interests.  Regarding the economic sector, Larigakis provided his thoughts on the importance of foreign direct investment in Greece and shared how AHI has worked to provide opportunities in foreign direct investment, citing AHI’s successful campaign to change a policy position of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) toward Greece.  

He also was candid about the reforms Greece must still enact to foster investor confidence in foreign direct investment. “I appreciated the opportunity to speak with Mr. Papagiannidis of Greek Business File and share my views about the current state of the relationship between longstanding NATO allies, United States and Greece,” Larigakis said.