No. 12

WASHINTON, DC —The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) announced the release of its 2017 Annual Report today. 

"All of AHI's policy-based programs and initiatives for 2017 that advance the best interests of the United States on issues of importance to the Greek American community are encapsulated in this report," President Nick Larigakis said. "We are proud to highlight a few milestone events as well as our susccessful programs, which include our 'Future of Hellenism in American' conference, foreign policy trip abroad for college students, and several policy forums, among other initiatives and events." 

To download a copy of the annual report, please use the links below:

No. 11

WASHINGTON, DC — The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump in the wake of acts of Turkish provocation and aggression in the eastern Mediterranean and broader region that have dire implications to U.S. security interests.

In the February 27, 2018 letter, AHI President Nick Larigakis requests President Trump to condemn strongly Turkish aggression and acts of provocations that have been directed at the United States, Greece, Cyprus, and international oil and gas companies—all of which have occurred in the month of February.  Larigakis cites: a Turkish coastguard vessel colliding with a stationary Greek coastguard vessel, the harassment of Italian oil company Eni’s surveying vessel by Turkish warships, which threatened to sink Eni’s surveying vessel because it was on its way to survey for energy resources in the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus; and Turkish President Erdogan’s threat of an “Ottoman slap” to United States military forces if they continued to partner with Syrian Kurds in Syria. In addition, Larigakis raised the concern among NATO allies about Turkey’s purchase of four divisions of S-400 missiles from Russia and how it potentially subjects Turkey to U.S. sanctions.

“Turkey’s aggressive and provocative actions directed at the United States and U.S. allies, Greece and Cyprus, are overt, egregious and dangerous. I urge the administration to act to uphold the rule of law and to call on Turkey, the provocateur of these tensions, to cease and desist with its aggressive actions that are a threat to peace and stability and are not in the best interests of the United States,” Larigakis concludes.

Greek Minister, State Department Official pitch importance of Fair

No. 10

WASHINGTON, DC — The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) hosted a panel presentation featuring Greece’s Minister of Digital Policy, Telecommunications and Information Nikos Pappas and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of European & Eurasian Affairs Jonathan Cohen, February 9, 2018, at the Capital Hilton, Washington, D.C.  The panelists spoke about their five-day, five-city U.S. tour in support of the 2018 Thessaloniki International Fair.  The United States will be the honored country at the Fair, which will be held September 8-16, 2018. The Fair’s theme is “Harnessing the Power of Innovation and Creativity.” 

AHI President Nick Larigakis opened the panel discussion with welcome remarks and moderated the panel discussion. He provided a backdrop about the Fair’s economic and political importance in Greece.

Minister Pappas reviewed their U.S. tour to five cities, which included visits to companies such as: Facebook, Lockheed Martin, Netflix, AirBnb, and Electronic Arts, among others, to recruit investors and exhibitors for the Thessaloniki International Fair. He touted Greece’s incentive plan to attract companies in the audio/visual and film sector.  In addition, Minister Pappas showed two video presentations demonstrating Greece’s readiness to attract investment.  

Deputy Assistant Secretary Cohen stated the Thessaloniki International Fair will be the most important event in U.S.-Greece relations in 2018, adding that Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross will attend.  He reflected on his experience at Capital Link Forum in New York City in December as an indication the investment community and Wall Street is bullish about Greece’s future. Cohen added the Fair provides an opportunity to show support for the U.S.-Greece relationship, which is at its best level since World War II.

Both government officials are looking to the Diaspora to create a buzz about the Fair, encouraging businesses and people to support the event via sponsorship or by attending.

No. 9

WASHINGTON, DC — The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) has issued a statement on Turkish aggression in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ):

News reports of Turkish warships blocking a rig belonging to Italian energy firm ENI from reaching Cypriot waters to start exploring for gas is the latest in a recent string of Turkish aggression in the eastern Mediterranean, which AHI strongly condemns.  In recent years, Turkey has violated international law by practicing “gunboat diplomacy” in the eastern Mediterranean with incursions into Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone.  To further illustrate Turkey’s history of provocation, Turkey issued a Navtex in April 2017, stating its coverage not only included Cyprus’ EEZ, but it also extended into a part of Cyprus’ territorial waters.  Adding to these examples is Turkey’s intensified military presence in an area stretching south from Rhodes to the coast of Paphos in Cyprus and the issuance of three consecutive Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) for military exercises over Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus.

The Republic of Cyprus has the sovereign right under international law to explore and exploit its natural resources within its exclusive economic zone.  The United States has stated repeatedly it supports Cyprus’ sovereign right to explore energy in its offshore areas.  In addition, Turkish aggression in Cyprus’ EEZ presents an endangerment to U.S. companies, such as ExxonMobil and Noble Energy, who have been, or will be, working to explore for hydrocarbons in the eastern Mediterranean.

Egypt and the European Union have rebuked Turkey’s most recent action to block ENI’s rig from reaching Cypriot waters. Today, Turkish President Erdogan threatened that Cyprus, Greece, and the companies, which are in the process of exploring for energy resources, should not “step out of line” and that Cyprus’ strength will only last until “they see our ships and our planes.” Therefore, we call on President Donald Trump to condemn, in the strongest terms, Turkey for its series of aggressive actions that have occurred in the island’s exclusive economic zone during the past year, and its president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for his bellicose rhetoric to Cyprus, Greece, and international companies.