Our Mission
AHI’s members care deeply about the United States’ relationship with Greece and her neighbors. Following Pericles’s admonition that good citizenship requires involvement in public affairs, we recognize the important role played in a vibrant democracy by alert, engaged citizens.
Our mission is as clear today as it was when AHI was founded in 1974: Upholding the rule of law in matters of U.S. foreign policy, particularly in our nation’s dealings with Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey. In 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied Cyprus, AHI advocated a profoundly simple response—enforce U.S. law. At the time, the Executive Branch refused to enforce federal laws that prohibited Turkey’s aggressive use of U.S.-supplied arms and equipment.
AHI persuaded Congress to take action. The resulting legislation—an unprecedented rule of law U.S. arms embargo against Turkey—proved that the democratic ideals of ancient Greece continue to thrive as long as ordinary citizens remain vigilant, informed, and active. Since then, AHI has become the leading forum for addressing important issues that affect the U.S.’s relationship with Greece, Cyprus, and Southeastern Europe. It is a well-respected lobby, think-tank, business network, and educational foundation that informs and influences leaders, policymakers and citizens alike. We invite you to join and help us fulfill our mission.
What We've Achieved
- In 1974, AHI galvanized Congress’s ‘Rule of Law Arms Embargo’, which prohibited arms sales to Turkey in response to that nation’s illegal invasion and occupation of the Republic of Cyprus.
- In 1974, AHI initiated the 25 million dollar annual Humanitarian Aid for Cyprus, which totaled over 400 million dollars.
- AHI's American Hellenic Who's Who, first published in 1979, was the only printed anthology of Greek Americans in the US
- AHI led the successful effort against U.S. recognition of the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" in 1984.
- AHI was the first organization to sponsor a Congressional delegation to Greece in 1993.
- In 1994, AHI was the first organization to raise the issue of religious freedom and protection for the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the reopening of Halki with Congress and the Executive Branch.
- AHI’s efforts in 1995 led to the elimination of U.S. grant economic aid to Turkey.
- In 2000, AHI began the support of Hellenic-related studies by scholars across the United States.
- In 2006, AHI blew the whistle on U.S. efforts to initiate direct trade with the illegal regime that occupies northern Cyprus.
- AHI’s initial Future of Hellenism in America conference in 2005 was the first event of its kind.
- AHI led the business community by hosting 14 symposia on doing business in Greece. AHI was the first organization to bring leaders together for this purpose.
- In 2009, AHIF sponsored the inaugural College Student Foreign Policy Study Trip to Greece and Cyprus for nine college students.
- In 2014, AHI published Kissinger & Cyprus: A Study in Lawlessness.
- In 2017, AHI hosted its 42nd Anniversary Hellenic Heritage Achievement and National Public Service Awards Dinner, and event which honors Greek Americans, philanthropists and philhellenes each year for their contributions to the community.
What We Do
The American Hellenic Institute is a respected and independent non-profit public policy and advocacy center that works to strengthen relations between the United States and Greece and Cyprus, and within the Greek American community.
From our Hellenic House headquarters, just steps from the White House, AHI’s professional staff works with legislators, the Department of State, the diplomatic corps, and educational institutions to advance the best interests of the U.S. on issues of importance to Greek Americans.
Through our deep understanding and knowledge of issues affecting Greece, Cyprus and U.S. interests in the region we serve as the leading voice to American, Greek, and Cypriot policy makers and within the community. With our newsletters, conferences, seminars, publications, and social media, we serve as a resource to our members and our network of supporters; providing them with the information necessary to be active at the grassroots level and to strengthen our voice in Washington.