The American Hellenic Institute (AHI), in cooperation with the AHI-Athens Chapter, presented a panel discussion titled “AHI 50 Years of Service – The Role of the Greek-American Community in Advancing U.S.-Greek Relations” on December 13 at the Grande Bretagne Hotel in Athens.
Vice Admiral Vasileios Kyriazis (ret.), President of the AHI Athens Chapter, welcomed the guests and George J. Tsunis, United States Ambassador to Greece, delivered the opening address. Afterwards, he told the National Herald that he was pleased to launch the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the AHI, which will culminate with a gala to be held in Washington, DC, on April 13, 2024.
AHI President and CEO Nicholas Larigakis presented a brief video highlighting highlights of the history of the public policy research and advocacy organization founded in response to invasion and occupation illegally from Cyprus by Turkey. AHI continues to advocate for Greece, Cyprus and the Ecumenical Patriarchate – but always in the context of US interests in the Eastern Mediterranean, as Larigakis always emphasizes and later explains.
Constantinos Arvanitopoulos, PhD, professor of international politics at the Department of International and European Studies at Panteion University, was the moderator of the panel which included Ambassador Haris Lalacos, former Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and former Ambassador of Greece to the United States, and Ambassador Alexandros P. Mallias, also former Greek Ambassador to the United States.
After presenting his remarks, including an overview of the Greek-American community, Arvanitopoulos invited questions from the audience before inviting Larigakis to present his closing remarks. Among his points, he noted the remarkable synergy in recent years between the efforts of the Greek-American community – both organizations like AHI and individuals reaching out to their elected officials – and the strengthening and broadening of relations between the United States. United, Greece and Cyprus. He also highlighted the growing importance of energy issues in these relations, as well as the 3+1 process which includes Greece, Cyprus, Israel and the United States.
As usual, Larigakis graciously thanked the guests, participants, AHI staff – and especially the sponsors “without whom none of this could happen,” referring to AHI’s efforts that include the presentation of two important events per year in Athens.
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