Athens, 5 April 2022

President of Hellenic Parliament meets with delegation of American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA)

The President of the Hellenic Parliament Constantine Tassoulas met today with the 14-member official delegation of the Greek Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), which is visiting our country for contacts with the political and state leadership of the country.

Welcoming the delegation, Mr Tassoulas expressed his special joy also over the association’s rich work, which this year, as he mentioned, completes a century of prosperous presence not only in the United States, but throughout the world. "You represent an organisation that has always supported the rights of Hellenism in the great country of America and has always offered charitable and social work." The Hellenic Parliament President made special reference to the Russian invasion in Ukraine, describing it as provocative and barbaric, noting: "What is happening these days with Russia’s provocative and barbaric invasion in Ukraine is a violation of international law, territorial sovereignty, national self-determination, threatening life and liberty. All these harsh images we have from this barbaric invasion show a violation of values that Hellenism has experienced, the latest example being Turkey’s illegal invasion and the continuing occupation of 36% of the territory of Northern Cyprus. I am certain the reaction of the West, the reaction of the civilised world, -you witnessed what happened in the UN with 141 condemning votes over this invasion-, will help to achieve what we all strive for in international relations: the greatness of the law to become its strength. Because only when law in international relations becomes a driving force, namely, the power of law, shall the world be at peace. Then diplomacy will prevail. And then our fundamental values will prevail, the ones Greece first reminded everyone of at the start of the invasion, as Greece was the first to say: "we stand by Ukraine because its sovereignty, freedom, self-determination and integrity are being attacked; when law prevails, the world will be able to make peace and deal with real problems, such as the climate crisis, a huge enemy that threatens everyone including the Russians, and no longer have to deal with this barbarity that must come to an end."

Speaking about AHEPA's 100-year presence and activity, the President commented: "Our country, your country, your country of origin is grateful to AHEPA for everything you have offered, especially after the disaster suffered by our country due both to the wars and the civil war. Today, our country's relations with the United States, Greece’s great ally, host of your life and the lives of your ancestors, are closer and better than ever. To this, you have made a major contribution, through your constant commitment to your organisation’s founding purposes. You have never forgotten your origins, your roots, your language, your culture, and for that we are grateful. We admire you for your contribution to the preservation of our culture, for helping to maintain and promote our community’s, namely the American citizens’ of Greek heritage residing in the US, for keeping your roots alive and for defending all national causes and goals of Greece and Cyprus, that is, the whole of Hellenism, while also promoting the US authorities' awareness. I welcome you with feelings of joy and gratitude. I wish that you keep up your work with the same rhythm, achieving the same success; always keep in mind that here in the Hellenic Parliament you will always have a friend, a partner and enjoy our support in your valuable and fruitful activity. "

Mr. Jimmy Kokotas, Supreme President of AHEPA, thanked the President of the Hellenic Parliament for the warm welcome and referred in detail to the organisation’s efforts, not only to preserve the language, traditions and ties of the Greek diaspora with the homeland of their ancestors, but also its action in support of the national causes of Greece and Cyprus and their promotion to United States of America  major political centers .

Mr Tassoulas presented the High Representative of AHEPA with the medal of the Parliament dedicated to the 200- year anniversary of the establishment of the Modern Greek state, receiving in return a souvenir for the organisation’s 100 years of activity and two new publications containing activity reports and the Greek positions regarding the definition of the Exclusive Economic Zones.

The official AHEPA delegation consists of: Mr Jimmy Kokotas, AHEPA Supreme President, Mr Emannuel Constans, AHEPA Canada Supreme President, Mrs Kathy Bizoukas, Daughters of Penelope Supreme President, Mr Nick Karacostas, Chairman of the Board, Former AHEPA Supreme President, Mr George Horiates, Lou Atsaves, Supreme President of AHEPA, Mr Savas Tsivikos, Supreme Secretary of AHEPA, Dr Zenon Christodoulou, Chairman of the AHEPA Committee on Greek Affairs, Mr Basil Mossaidis, Executive Director of AHEPA America, Mrs Elena Saviolakis, Daughters of Penelope Executive Director, Mr Giannis Mitropoulos, Supreme Governor of AHEPA Europe, Mr Costas Varsamis, Governor of AHEPA Greece, Mrs Maria Sofriamos, Daughters of Penelope Coordinator. The delegation was accompanied by Mr Ioannis Chrysoulakis, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary General for Hellenes Abroad and State Diplomacy.

The Hellenic Parliament was represented by the Chairman of the Special Standing Committee on Greeks Abroad, Mr Savvas Anastasiadis, the Hellenic Parliament Secretary General, Mr George Mylonakis, and the Hellenic Parliament Diplomatic Advisor, Ambassador Constantine Economidis.

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