No. 103
ATHENS, Greece — American Hellenic Institute (AHI) President Nick Larigakis concluded a successful year-end, trip to Greece that included stops in Athens and Alexandroupolis. The December 1 to 13, 2023, trip included President Larigakis delivering lectures, engaging with government officials, military officers, and prominent members of business and academia; touring military facilities, and attending special events. The visit culminated with AHI’s well- established annual Athens presentation and reception held December 13 (a separate press release to come).
Athens Itinerary Includes Key Meetings, Presentations
President Larigakis’ Athens itinerary included substantive meetings with U.S. Ambassador to Greece George Tsunis and Greece’s National Security Advisor, Thanos Dokos, and President of the Hellenic Parliament Konstantinos Tasoulas.
On the defense and security front, Larigakis met with Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff (HNDGS) General Konstantinos Floros, Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff (HAGS) Lt. General Angelos Choudeloudis, and Chief of the Hellenic Navy Vice Admiral Ioannis Drymousis.
At the invitation of Hellenic Navy Chief Vice Admiral Drymousis, Larigakis attended two events to celebrate the Hellenic Navy on the occasion of the Feast Day of Saint Nicholas. The first was a program and concert held at The Foundation of the Hellenic World on December 5, and the second was held at the Hellenic Naval Academy in Pireaus on December 6. At the latter, Larigakis appreciated the opportunity to meet with Minister of Defense Nikos Dendias on the sidelines.
Meetings were also held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with: Deputy Foreign Minister George Kotsiras, Minister Plenipotentiary Nicolas Sigalas, A7 Directorate for North America, South America & the Caribbean; and Director Ambassador Andreas Fryganas, A4 Directorate, Turkey.
Rounding out the itinerary with government officials, Larigakis met with Secretary General for Tourism Policy & Development Myron Flouris, former Foreign Minister of Greece Dora Bakoyannis, who currently serves as chair of the Hellenic Parliament Standing Committee on National Defense and Foreign Affairs; and had a working breakfast with Secretary General of Public Diplomacy and Greeks Abroad, Prof. John Chrysoulakis.
AHI President Larigakis with Hellenic Parliament Member and Chair of the Standing Committee on National Defense and Foreign Affairs Dora Bakoyannis. Bakoyannis also served as the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece.
Moreover, Larigakis met with Professor Maria Gavouneli, who serves as the director general for The Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP), an independent think tank; and with Joanna E. Papadopoulos, who is the president and managing director of E.J. Papadopoulos S.A.
Larigakis’ schedule included his attendance at two special events. He attended a Gala Dinner to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the American College of Greece, having a presence in Greece, held at the Athens Concert Hall. Also, at the invitation of Alexis Papahelas, who is the executive editor of the Greek daily, Kathimerini, Larigakis attended a gala dinner to mark the 25th anniversary of cooperation between the New York Times and Kathimerini.
President Larigakis attending the gala dinner of the 25th anniversary of cooperation between the New York Times and Kathimerini.
President Larigakis’ visit to Athens commenced on December 1 with a lecture he delivered to officers enrolled at Hellenic National Defense College. The college educates and trains officers to take national defense matters into account for when they are in the field.
Alexandroupolis: A Review of Greece’s Military Capabilities
President Nick Larigakis visited Alexandroupolis on December 8, whereby he received an update about Greece’s military capabilities in the area when he visited the XII Mechanized Infantry Division Headquarters, specifically, the Armored Brigade “43 rd Calvery Regiment – Dorileo.” The Brigade’s Commanding Brigadier General Vasileios Lampropoulos facilitated all the ground activities in Alexandroupolis.
“I thank all the officials with whom I met for their generous time and everyone who helped to facilitate meetings, tours, events, and lectures,” Larigakis said. “All the meetings resulted in productive discussions, and we reviewed AHI’s programs and initiatives that work to keep Greece at the forefront of policymakers’ agenda in Washington. We also discussed Greece’s critical role to security interests in the Eastern Mediterranean by virtue of Greece as a pillar of stability and peace and the persistent threats Greece faces from Turkey.”
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The American Hellenic Institute is an independent non-profit Greek American public policy center and think tank that works to strengthen relations between the United States and Greece and Cyprus, and within the Greek American community.
For additional information, please contact us at (561) 529-0306 or [email protected]. For general information about the activities of AHI, please see our website at http://www.ahiworld.org.