American Hellenic Institute panel in Athens spotlights U.S.-Greece relations

The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) in cooperation with the AHI-Athens chapter presented a panel discussion titled ‘AHI 50 Years of Service – The Role of the Greek American Community in Advancing U.S.-Greek Relations’ on December 13 at the Grande Bretagne Hotel in Athens.

AHI Athens Chapter President Vice Admiral Vasileios Kyriazis (ret.) welcomed the guests and George J. Tsunis, Ambassador of the United States to Greece offered Opening Remarks. Afterward, he told The National Herald that he was pleased to launch the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of AHI, which culminates in a gala to be held in Washington, DC on April 13, 2024.

AHI President and CEO Nicholas Larigakis presented a brief video with highlights of the history of the public policy research and advocacy organization founded in response to Turkey’s illegal invasion and occupation of Cyprus. AHI continues to advocate for Greece, Cyprus, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate – but always in the context of U.S. interests in the Eastern Mediterranean, as Larigakis always stresses and later elaborated on.

Constantinos Arvanitopoulos, PhD, Professor of International Politics at the Department of International and European Studies at Panteion University was the moderator of the panel that included Ambassador Haris Lalacos, former Secretary General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and former Ambassador of Greece to the U.S., and Ambassador Alexandros P. Mallias, also a former Ambassador of Greece to the U.S.

After presenting his observations, including an overview of the Greek-American community, Arvanitopoulos invited the audience to pose questions to the participants before inviting Larigakis to present his closing remarks. Among his points, he noted the remarkable synergy in recent years between the Greek-American community’s efforts – both organizations like AHI and individuals reaching out to their elected officials – and the strengthening and broadening of relations between the United States, Greece, and Cyprus.  He also emphasized the growing importance of energy issues in those relationships, as well as the 3 + 1 process that includes Greece, Cyprus, Israel + the U.S.

As is his custom, Larigakis graciously offered heartfelt thanks to guests, participants, AHI staff – and especially the sponsors “without whom none of this can happen,” referring to AHI’s efforts that include presenting two substantial events a year in Athens.

Read more at thenationalherald.com

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