AHI to Hold Conferences in Athens and Cyprus on How U.S. Foreign Policy is Made and the Role of Greek Americans

The American Hellenic Institute is pleased to announce that from November 13-16, 1999 it will hold its first conferences in Cyprus and Greece on the subject of the making of U.S. foreign policy and the role of Greek Americans.

The conference in Cyprus will take place in Nicosia on November 13, 1999 under the title of "United States-Cyprus Relations: The American Foreign Policy Process and the Role of Greek Americans." The conference, AHI's first in Cyprus, is being arranged in cooperation with Intercollege, Nicosia, under the direction of Mr. Andreas Theophanous. Mr. Tassos Papadopoulos, Head of the Foreign Relations Committee of the House Representatives, will open the conference with the keynote address. Mr. Themis Themistocleous, Director of the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), will act as the Luncheon Chairman and the Guest of Honor will be Mr. Kyriakos Rodoussakis, Ambassador of Greece to Cyprus.

The conference in Athens will take place on November 15-16, 1999 at the Intercontinental Hotel and is being arranged in cooperation with the AHI-Greece Chapter. Entitled "United States-Greece Relations: The American Foreign Policy Process and the Role of Greek Americans," the conference, AHI's first in Greece, will take place under the overall chairmanship of Mr. Costas Ioannou, President of the AHI-Greece Chapter and former Co-President of the American Hellenic Chamber of Commerce of Athens.

Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos will open the conference with the keynote speech at a gala dinner on November 15. On November 16 the conference program will be opened by U.S. Ambassador to Greece Nicholas Burns. Mr. Kostas Karamanlis, President of New Democracy, will be the luncheon keynote speaker. The conference will conclude with a reception hosted by Ambassador Burns at his residence.

The objective of both conferences is to help forge a more effective partnership between the United States and Greece and Cyprus by:

1. presenting the essentials of the American foreign policy process and how it differs from the European parliamentary system;
2. setting out the role of Greek Americans in the U.S. foreign policy process;
3. describing the current status of U.S relations with Greece and Cyprus from an American point of view.

Topics to be discussed include:

• Current U.S. Policy toward Greece and Cyprus: A Greek American Perspective. Speaker: Professor Van Coufoudakis
• The American Foreign Policy Process and the Role of Greek Americans. Speaker: Hon. Eugene Rossides.
• Outside Influences on U.S. Foreign Policy: Speakers: Mr. Jonathan Clarke and Nick Karambelas, Esq.
• The Lobby Process: AHI at Work. Speaker: Mr. Nick Larigakis
• Modern Greek Studies in the U.S. and the Role of the Modern Greek Studies Association. Speaker: Professor Van Coufoudakis
• AHI as a Facilitator in Promoting Greek and Cypriot Business Interests in the United States. Speaker: James Marketos, Esq.

Mr. Costas Ioannou was appointed President of AHI-Greece in September 1997. Formerly he pursued a successful business career in Greece, retiring as Managing Director and Chairman of Goodyear Hellas. Prior to that he held top managerial posts in General Motors, Firestone Tire and Rubber and Goodyear Tire and Rubber. Upon retirement he has developed an active consultancy practice with several leading Greek companies.

Mr. Andreas Theophanous is Director of the Research and Development Center at Intercollege. He also directs the M.A. Program in International Relations.

The American Hellenic Institute was founded in 1974 with the objective of improving U.S. relations with Greece and Cyprus. Located at historic Hellenic House close to the White House in the heart of Washington DC, AHI and its affiliate organizations--the AHI Public Affairs Committee, the AHI Foundation, and the AHI Business Network--conduct a wide range of public policy, educational, business, publishing and community-based programs. AHI draws on a nationwide membership. AHI is a non-profit, tax exempt organization.