Annual
AHEPA Family Excursion Commences in Athens
Delegation
Meets with PM Papandreou, President Papoulias, Ambassador Smith Supreme
President Addresses Hellenic Parliament Special Committee on Greeks Abroad
WASHINGTON
- The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), a
leading membership-based association for the nation's three million
American citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes, and its affiliated
organizations, the Daughters of Penelope and Maids of Athena, commenced
its 83rd annual overseas excursion with a two-day visit to Athens, April
12-13, 2011.
During
the Athens leg, the leadership of the AHEPA family, comprised of Supreme
President Nicholas A. Karacostas, Daughters of Penelope Grand President
Christine Constantine, Maids of Athena Grand President Kiki Amanatidis,
AHEPA Canadian President Nick Aroutzidis, and Executive Director Basil
Mossaidis, met with Prime Minister George Papandreou, President
of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias, and President of the
Hellenic Parliament Mr. Phillipos Petsalnikos on April 13.
In
a first for AHEPA, Supreme President Karacostas addressed the Hellenic
Parliament's Special
Committee on Greeks Abroad, which was attended by several members of
Parliament led by Committee Chairman Ilias Karanikas and Secretary of the
Committee Spyridon-Adonis Georgiadis. The supreme president provided an
overview of AHEPA's role in the community and how the organization has
served as trusted bridge between the United States and Greece, the state
of the Greek American community, and programs of mutual cooperation to
benefit the Diaspora.
In
addition, the nine-member delegation received a briefing on U.S.-Greece
relations from American Ambassador to Greece Daniel B. Smith at the
American Embassy on April 12.
"We
have been extremely well-received in Athens," said Supreme President
Nicholas A. Karacostas. "We are grateful to all parties that helped
to make this leg of our excursion a fruitful and productive one. We look
forward to continuing our work together to further enhance and strengthen
relations between the United States, Canada, and Greece."
The
delegation concluded its Athens leg with a roof-top reception hosted by
the University of Indianapolis, Athens Campus. The university is AHEPA's
partner for its successful "Journey
to Greece" Program for college students.
The
delegation leaves for the Republic of Cyprus on Thursday, April 14 for two
days of meetings there.
