President Obama Focuses on Hellenes at White House
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
WASHINGTON, DC, April 4, 2014 — President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden focused on Hellenes this afternoon as they celebrated Greek Independence Day at the White House. This was the 28th consecutive year that Greek-Americans met with the sitting US President to celebrate Greece and to focus on matters of Hellenic concern.
Andy Manatos and Mike Manatos, of Manatos & Manatos, the organization that established and maintains this annual meeting with the President released the following joint statement:
“The stature of our Archbishops at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, with the assistance of Father Alex Karloutsos and the patriotic Hellenic-Americans who support the Coordinated Effort of Hellenes, deserve credit for enabling our Hellenic community to enjoy this annual Presidential involvement. This event occurs even though Hellenes make up only one half of 1% of the US population, while the only other nationality that enjoys such annual meetings, the Irish-Americans, account for one-out-of-eight Americans.
Archbishop Demetrios of America, as all our Archbishops before him have done, expressed in a face-to-face meeting with the President and Vice President the concerns of Hellenes. Over the years, these meetings have proven invaluable to the US appreciating Greece and Cyprus as top US allies and to maintaining America as a powerful ally for Greece and Cyprus.
American lives have been saved by many Greek policies including the instrumental role that Souda Bay, Greece has served in the transport of thousands of American ships, planes and personnel on their way to the Middle East. The same can be said for Cyprus, which, for example, transported 150,000 American troops to Iraq when Turkey refused American use of our base at Incirlik.
Greece and Cyprus have also benefited from their strong ties to America. Examples involve the White House improving the International Monetary Fund’s treatment of Greece as part of the Troika and supporting Cyprus’ early EU accession by reversing the opposition of Germany and France.
We also express our appreciation to President Obama, who for all six years of his presidency, has hosted a White House reception for Hellenic-American leaders to celebrate Greek Independence Day.”
Photo by Apostolis Zoupaniotis