Deputy Foreign Minister Evripidis Stylianidis Visits AHI to Discuss Business Relations between Greece and the U.S.
WASHINGTON, DC —
On September 27, 2004, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Greece
Evripidis Stylianidis, Special Advisor Georgios Pandremenos, and
Ambassador George Vallantis, accompanied by the Deputy Chief of Mission to
the Greek Embassy Eleftherios Anghelopoulos visited the American Hellenic
Institute’s headquarters, the Hellenic House. The Greek officials met
with members of the AHI leadership, including Advisory Committee members
James Marketos and Kostas Alexakis, AHI-VA Chapter President Thanos
Basdekis, Legal Counsel Nick Karambelas, AHI President Gene Rossides,
Executive Director Nick Larigakis and the staff.
During the one-hour meeting, the members of the AHI leadership had the
opportunity to review several items of mutual interest concerning U.S.
business relations with Greece, including ways to intensify bilateral
economic ties, and American investments to Greece and Greek exports to the
U.S. The meeting also included a discussion of how to advance these items
in mutual cooperation, as well as a review of AHI’s initiatives in
engaging the Greek American community in business ties with Greece.
Although Minister Stylianidis enumerated certain challenges in doing
business with Greece, he also emphasized that his government has gone
about strengthening economic ties to the U.S. carefully and steadily.
Minister Stylianidis laid out the strategic plan for developing new
markets and improving the economy in Greece. "In order to accomplish
this goal, the Foreign Ministry’s two main targets include strengthening
exports and attracting foreign investment to Greece," said Minister
Stylianidis.
The government hopes to gain support in achieving its objectives through
its strong ties to the Greek American communities nation-wide.
"AHI looks forward to working very closely with Minister Stylianidis
and his staff to facilitate common objectives. This fits directly with one
of our core objectives at the AHI, mainly the strengthening of U.S.
relations with Greece via business opportunities," said Executive
Director Nick Larigakis.
