AHEPA welcomes Bush-Simitis meeting

By Andrew Kaffes

WASHINGTON--The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), a leading association of Americans of Greek descent and Philhellenes, welcomes the invitation extended to Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis by President George W. Bush to meet January 10, 2002, in Washington, DC.

"We view this as an opportunity for the United States and Greece to further enhance an already strong relationship between the two NATO allies and to discuss issues of mutual interest," said President Andrew T. Banis.

According to Banis, among the issues of most importance to Greek-Americans are the following:  the international war on terrorism, a just solution to the Cyprus problem based upon UN Security Council Resolutions, Cyprus' orderly accession into the European Union with or without a solution, sovereignty in the Aegean, preparations for the 2004 Olympic Games, and stability in the Balkans.

AHEPA is the largest Greek-American association in the world with 521 chapters in the United States, Canada, Greece, and Cyprus, and sister chapters in Australia and New Zealand.  It was established in 1922 by visionary Greek-Americans to protect Greek immigrants from prejudice originating from the KKK, and in its history, AHEPA has joined with the NAACP and B'nai B'rith to fight discrimination.  It was also founded to help Greek immigrants assimilate into American society.