Press Releases

AHI Sent the 2007 Greek American Policy Statements to the Congress and the Executive Branch

Washington, DC—On May 2, 2007, AHI sent copies of the 2007 Greek American Policy Statements to the Congress, the President and the following Executive Branch officials: Vice President Richard B. Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas R. Burns, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Karen Hughes, Chief of Staff to the President Joshua B. Bolten, Special Assistant to the President Karl Rove, National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, Assistant, Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia Daniel Fried, Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom John Hanford, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia Matthew Bryza, Director of Southern European Affairs Douglas Silliman, U.S. Ambassador to Greece Charles Reis, U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus Ronald L. Schlicher, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Ross Wilson, Greek Desk Officer L. Gabrielle Cowan, Cyprus Desk Officer Melissa Clegg-Tripp, Turkey Desk Officer Paul Malik.

AHI has also sent copies of the 2007 Greek American Policy Statements to the media.

The following is the transmittal letter for the policy statements:

May 2, 2007

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

On behalf of the nationwide membership of the American Hellenic Institute (AHI), we are pleased to send to you the 2007 Greek American Policy Statements.

The policy statements, prepared by AHI, have been endorsed by leading Greek American membership organizations.

The policies set forth are based in each case on the question of what is in the best interests of the United States and are drawn from the issues that concern Americans of Hellenic descent. The policy statements deal primarily with U.S. relations with Greece, Cyprus and Turkey as they bear on overall U.S. interests in the region.

The policy statements deal with the following topics:

1. Cyprus—support a just and lasting resolution to the Cyprus conflict that applies American values and democratic standards, including the rule of law, majority rule and protection of minority and human rights, removal of Turkish illegal occupation forces and illegal settlers/colonists, removal of Turkey’s barbed wire fence across Cyprus;
2. Greece—support for Greece regarding (a) the maritime boundary in the Aegean between Greece and Turkey established by treaties, (b) a name for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) that does not include the word “Macedonia,” (c) act to ensure that Albania observes the rule of law and protects minority and human rights for its significant Greek minority population; and (d) to be included in the Visa Waiver Program;
3. Religious freedom—support safeguarding the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul and the reopening the Halki Patriarchal School of Theology illegally closed in 1971; and
4. Turkey—the need for a critical review of U.S. policy toward Turkey and compensation to Turkey’s victims.

We appreciate the opportunity to convey our 2007 Greek American Policy Statements to you and thank you for your consideration of them.

Sincerely,

Gene Rossides, President
Nick Larigakis, Executive Director

Enclosure

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For additional information, please contact Georgia Economou at (202) 785-8430 or georgia@ahiworld.org. For general information regarding the activities of AHI, please view our Web site at http://www.ahiworld.org.

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