The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (Order of AHEPA) and the American Hellenic Institute (AHI) hosted a dinner in honor of Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ visit to the U.S., Oct. 16, 2017, at the Willard InterContinental, Washington, D.C. Prime Minister Tsipras is in the midst of a five-day visit to the United States, which included a working luncheon and joint press conference with President Donald J. Trump, today.
In remarks, Prime Minister Tsipras discussed the importance of U.S. investment in Greece, the opportunities to enhance U.S.-Greece defense cooperation, and the critical role the Greek American community can play in the U.S.-Greece relationship.
Prime Minister Tsipras described members of the community as the best ambassadors, and added, “You represent the values of freedom and democracy.”
Supreme President Carl R. Hollister and AHI President Nick Larigakis also offered remarks. They welcomed Prime Minister Tsipras to Washington and wished the prime minister, and his diplomatic corps, fruitful deliberations. Both presidents also remarked upon the opportunities to bolster the U.S.-Greece relationship across various sectors and emphasized the importance of continued foreign direct investment in Greece to Greece’s economic recovery.
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Read: AHEPA’s expectations for Prime Minister Tsipras’ U.S. Visit
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Read: AHI’s letter to President Trump ahead of Prime Minister Tsipras’ Meeting
AHEPA Announces Signed MoU for 2021 Supreme Convention in Greece
In addition, Supreme President Hollister announced AHEPA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Greece’s Ministry of Tourism to hold its Supreme Convention in Greece in 2021–which will be the bicentennial anniversary of Greece’s Independence. Prime Minister Tsipras acknowledged AHEPA’s announcement in his remarks. Further, U.S. Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt tweeted:
Delighted to meet new SupremePresident Carl Hollister last night & excited @ his announcement of the 2021 @OrderOfAHEPAconvention in Athens
— Geoffrey Pyatt (@USAmbGreece) October 17, 2017
Emanuel L. Rouvelas, partner, K&L Gates, and AHI and AHEPA member, served as the Master of Ceremonies.
Government officials in attendance included: U.S. Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt, Ambassador of Greece to the U.S. Haris Lalacos, Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the U.S. Leonidas Pantelides, U.S. Representative John Sarbanes, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias, Greek Minister of Defense Panos Kammenos, and Greek Minister of Digital Policy, Telecommunications, and Media Nikos Pappas.
About AHEPA
Founded in 1922 in Atlanta, Georgia, on the principles that undergirded its fight for civil rights and against discrimination, bigotry, and hatred felt at the hands of the Ku Klux Klan, AHEPA is the largest and oldest grassroots association of American citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes with more than 400 chapters across the United States, Canada, and Europe.
About AHI
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.
Photo Caption 1: Supreme President Hollister and AHI President Larigakis present Prime Minister Tsipras with a painting of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. (Photo Credit: Roma Vista Photography)
