AHI Executive Director Completes Annual Trip to Greece

AHI Host Reception for Congressional Delegation Visiting Athens

WASHINGTON, DC—On November 26, 2007, American Hellenic Institute (AHI) Executive Director Nick Larigakis, began his annual end of the year trip to Athens where a very busy schedule was compressed into 4 days.

During the fours days, he met with Greek government officials and business leaders and discussed the organization's goals and objectives and focused on engendering new areas of mutual cooperation and development between leaders in Greece and the Greek American community.

From the government, he held meetings with: Minister of Development, Christos Folias, Deputy Foreign Minister, Theodoros Kassimis, and Deputy Defense Minister, Ioannis Plakiotakis. Other meetings included the Directors of the Foreign Ministry divisions of the United States, Cyprus, Turkey and the Balkans. Mr. Larigakis also met with the top military leaders at the Greek Pentagon, the Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff, General Dimitrios Grapsas and the A’ Deputy Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff, Lieutenant General Stylianos Nassis.

Mr. Larigakis also visited the Municipality of Amaroussion where he had a working meeting with the General Secretary of the Municipality, Dr. Michalis Christakis and also met with the Mayor, George Patoulis. The meeting focused on exploring ways of pursuing projects of mutual benefit and cooperation.

Mr. Larigakis also visited with the newly arrived U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Daniel Speckhard, at the U.S. Embassy and was also invited to a reception hosted by the Ambassador at his residence for a visiting delegation of U.S. Members of Congress. In addition, he was also invited to a luncheon hosted by the Order of AHEPA for the Members of Congress.

While in Athens, Mr. Larigakis was interviewed on the “ERT World” program, “Here is Athens.” The show is shown around the world as part of the ERT satellite programming.

On November 28, 2007 the AHI in cooperation with the AHI Athens Chapter hosted a reception at the Grande Bretagne Hotel, where the special guests were the Members of a visiting U.S. Congressional Delegation. The bipartisan delegation was led by Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ) and included Congressman Dennis Moore (D-KS), Congressman John Carter (R-TX), Congressman Phil Gingrey (R-GA), and joining them was Congressman Zack Space (D-OH).

The event started with a welcome address by Mr. Ilias Malevitis, President of AHI Athens Chapter followed by Deputy Foreign Minister, Theodoros Kassimis. Also offering remarks was AHI Executive Director Nick Larigakis. Comments were also presented by the new U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Daniel Speckhard and a greeting was given by AHEPA Executive Director, Basil Mossaidis.

Over 180 friends and members of the Institute attended the event which included persons from the government, political, business and media sectors.

The event sponsors included Capital Link, Mr. Athanasios Sipsas , Motor Oil (Hellas) Corinth Refineries S.A., G.C. Economou & Associates, Ted G. Spyropoulos, S & B Industrial Minerals S.A., Nikos Agapinos Law Firm and KAPOTAS A.E.

Digital photographs from the Annual Trip to Greece are available at the following link: https://ahiworld.org/2007_Athens_trip/

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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.