AHEPA Convention Body Adopts Language on Greece’s Referendum

AHEPA Convention Body Adopts Language on 

Greece’s Referendum 

U.S.-Greece Relations Must Remain “Strong and Certain”

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. (July 4, 2015) — At the annual convention of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), a leading membership-based association for the nation’s millions of American citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes, the organization’s public policy committee presented its report which was adopted by the convention body, July 3, 2015, and included two clauses on Greece’s debt crisis and July 5 referendum:

• “[The AHEPA Cyprus & Hellenic Affairs Committee] Echoes the statement issued by Supreme President Phillip Frangos on current developments with Greece’s debt crisis, especially the call for the Obama administration to step-up its engagement on the issue.  Furthermore, the Committee encourages AHEPA to keep sensitive to the needs of the Greek people, who have suffered greatly during this crisis; and to continue with its humanitarian aid whenever possible.  The Committee’s hope is that integrity of the European Union is maintained.”
• “Regardless of the outcome of the referendum held in Greece on July 5, 2015, what is crucial to the Greek American community is that U.S.-Greece relations remain strong and certain and Greece’s geostrategic importance and contributions to the security interests of the U.S. and NATO is valued and appreciated.”

In addition, Supreme President-elect John W. Galanis affirmed AHEPA’s July 1 statement on the Greek debt crisis and reiterated AHEPA’s concern for the well-being of the people of Greece.

The AHEPA Cyprus & Hellenic Affairs Committee’s report also contained the sense of the committee on the resumption of Cyprus settlement talks and on legislative initiatives undertaken in the 114th Congress.