AHI Sends 2007 Greek American Policy Statements to Presidential Candidates

Washington, DC—AHI has sent copies of the 2007 Greek American Policy Statements to each of the eight Democratic Presidential candidates, the ten Republican Presidential candidates and the two unannounced potential Republican Presidential candidates.

The names of the Democratic candidates are as follows: Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, Senator Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut, John Edwards, former senator from North Carolina and the Democratic Party’s Vice Presidential nominee in 2004, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Senator Obama of Illinois, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, Representative Dennis J. Kucinich of the 10th district of Ohio and Mike Gravel, former senator from Alaska.

The Republicans candidates are as follows: Representative Duncan Hunter of the 52nd Congressional District of California and Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, former Governors Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, James S. Gilmore III of Virginia and Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas, Representatives Ron Paul of the 14th district of Texas and Tom Tancredo of the 6th district of Colorado, former Wisconsin Governor Tommy G. Thomson, former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Senator John McCain of Arizona. Two unannounced potential candidates are Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and former Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee.

The following is the cover letter sent to each of the candidates:

May 17, 2007

Dear (Presidential Candidate):

On behalf of the nationwide membership of the American Hellenic Institute (AHI), we are pleased to send to you the 2007 Greek American Policy Statements.

The policy statements, prepared by AHI, have been endorsed by leading Greek American membership organizations.

The policies set forth are based in each case on the question of what is in the best interests of the United States and are drawn from the issues that concern Americans of Hellenic descent. The policy statements deal primarily with U.S. relations with Greece, Cyprus and Turkey as they bear on overall U.S. interests in the region.

The policy statements deal with the following topics:

1. Cyprus—support a just and lasting resolution to the Cyprus conflict that applies American values and democratic standards, including the rule of law, majority rule and protection of minority and human rights; removal of Turkish illegal occupation forces and illegal settlers/colonists; and removal of Turkey’s barbed wire fence across Cyprus;
2. Greece—support for Greece regarding (a) the maritime boundary in the Aegean between Greece and Turkey established by treaties, (b) a name for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) that does not include the word “Macedonia,” (c) act to ensure that Albania observes the rule of law and protects minority and human rights for its significant Greek minority population; and (d) to be included in the Visa Waiver Program;
3. Religious freedom—support safeguarding the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul and the reopening the Halki Patriarchal School of Theology illegally closed in 1971; and
4. Turkey—the need for a critical review of U.S. policy toward Turkey and compensation to Turkey’s victims.

We appreciate the opportunity to convey our 2007 Greek American Policy Statements to you and thank you for your consideration of them.

Sincerely,

Gene Rossides, President
Nick Larigakis, Executive Director

Enclosure

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For additional information, please contact Georgia Economou at (202) 785-8430 or georgia@ahiworld.org. For general information regarding the activities of AHI, please view our Web site at https://www.ahiworld.org.