American Hellenic Institute Releases
2002 Greek American Policy Statements

WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, the American Hellenic Institute (AHI) released the 2002 Greek American Policy Statements (click here). The Policy Statementsset forth the positions on the issues of concern to Greek Americans based on what is in the best interests of the U.S.

The Policy Statements highlight the significant changes taking place in the political, security and economic landscape of Southeast Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean. They stress the strategic importance of Greece and Cyprus as regional partners of the U.S. As vigorous, prosperous and stable democracies, they are a source of regional leadership and they offer the U.S. an opportunity to advance its national interests in the region. The Policy Statements also call on the U.S. government:

• to remain actively engaged in moving the Cyprus problem to a settlement based on UN resolutions, democratic principles, and EU legal principles and common practices, and to continue the $15 million in humanitarian aid to Cyprus;
• to declare publicly that the boundary in the Aegean Sea between Greece and Turkey has been long-settled and that if Turkey disagrees, Turkey should take the matter to the International Court of Justice at the Hague; and
• to stop applying a double standard to Turkey on the rule of law, human rights, international and national state terrorism by Turkey in Cyprus and against its 20 percent Kurdish minority in Turkey.

The Policy Statements describe recent efforts to bring an end to the Cyprus problem. Also emphasized is H.Con.Res.164, a House resolution declaring U.S. support for Cyprus' entry into the European Union with or without a settlement of the Cyprus problem. Executive Director Nick Larigakis is coordinating efforts with Greek American membership organizations to add co-sponsors to the current list of Representatives supporting H.Con.Res. 164. To date, there are 78 co-sponsors. 
This year's statements were prepared by the AHI and reviewed and endorsed by key Greek American organizations, including:

• Hellenic American National Council (HANC)
• Hellenic American Women's Council (HAWC)
• Cyprus Federation of America
• Panepirotic Federation of America
• Pan-Macedonian Association, and
• Pan-Cretan Association of America

For additional information, please contact Chrysoula Economopoulos at (202) 785-8430 or [email protected]. For general information regarding the activities of AHI, please view our website at https://www.ahiworld.org.