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President Clinton Meets with Greek-American Leaders, 97-03-26
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- MARCH 26, 1997
PRESIDENT CLINTON MEETS WITH GREEK-AMERICAN LEADERS
Today President Bill Clinton met with a small delegation of
Greek-American leaders, led by His Eminence Archbishop Spyridon, in the Oval
Office to commemorate this year's celebration of Greek Independence Day.
The President issued a proclamation calling on Americans to observe
March 25, 1997 as "Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of
Greek and American Democracy." The United States Senate requested that the
President issue such a proclamation through its passage of the Greek
Independence Day resolution, for the eleventh year in a row, on March 14, 1997.
Representing the Hellenic Republic in this meeting with the president
were Greek Ambassador Loucas Tsilas and the president of the Greek Parliament's
Interparliamentary Committee for Hellenes Abroad, Grigorios Niotis.
Greek-American leaders in attendance included: Andrew A.. Athens, national
chairman of the United Hellenic American Congress (UHAC) and who, in another
capacity, serves as the president of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE);
Dr. Spiro Macris, supreme president of AHEPA; and Andrew E. Manatos, president
of The National Coordinated Effort. The Archbishop was accompanied by Father
Alexander Karloutsos, Father John Heropoulos and Nikki Stephanopoulos of the
Archdiocese of North America.
The Greek Independence Day resolution was created by and made possible
for each of the last eleven years through the combined contributed work of the
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and The National Coordinated Effort. The passage of
this resolution has provided an opportunity each year for Greek-American leaders
to remind the president of the United States of our community's important role
in America and of the importance of America's relationship with Greece and
Cyprus.
For more information, please contact Mike Manatos at (202) 393-7790.
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