AHIF’s Foreign Policy Program Commences Its Second Year

Students Receive First-hand Experience about Foreign Policy Priorities in Region

WASHINGTON, DC —The American Hellenic Institute Foundation (AHIF) Foreign Policy Trip to Greece and Cyprus begins its second year today as students from across the United States gather for briefings in Washington before departing for Cyprus on June 18, 2010. The two-week program concludes on July 2, 2010 when the students return to the United States from Athens.

The student participants are: Aryiri (Roula) Adonakis, graduate student, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Leah Barkoukis, Master’s Degree candidate in Conflict Resolution, Georgetown University; John Papaspanos, a graduate of Seton Hall University who is leaning toward attending law school this fall; Georgea Polizos, Master's Degree candidate in International Affairs, Florida State University; Alfonso Romero, Master's Degree candidate in Political Science, University of Cincinnati; Michael Savvas, pursuing a BA at San Diego State University; and Ellen Youssios, pursuing a BA at Queens College, QUNY.

“We are excited for this year’s program,” said Executive Director Nick Larigakis.  “We have built upon last year’s inaugural success with a bright and talented group of students who are eager to learn about policy in the Eastern Mediterranean.”

In Washington, the students gathered at AHI’s Hellenic House before going to the Cato Institute for a briefing with Dr. Ted Galen Carpenter, vice president, Defense and Foreign Policy Studies. They will also be briefed by U.S. Department of State officials from the Office of Southern European Affairs, His Excellency Andreas Kakouris, ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the United States; and officers from the Embassy of the Hellenic Republic including Deputy Chief of Mission Ioannis Vrailas and Consul Kostantinos Alexandris.

During the two-week program, the students will have the opportunity to receive first-hand experience about the foreign policy issues affecting Greece and Cyprus, their relations with the U.S., and the interests of the U.S. in the region. There will be meetings or briefings with American embassies, officials from various ministries, including Foreign Affairs, parliament members, religious leaders, think-tank organizations, and members of academia and the private sector of both countries.  In Cyprus, the group will visit the occupied area.  Although the schedule will be packed, the students will have free time to visit historic and cultural sites.

The American Hellenic Institute Foundation (AHIF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit tax-exempt Greek American think-tank, educational and research organization. The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) is a 501 (c) (6) non-profit, tax-exempt public policy organization that works to strengthen relations between the United States and Greece and Cyprus, and within the Greek American community.

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For additional information, please contact C. Franciscos Economides at (202) 785-8430 or at pr@ahiworld.org. For general information about the activities of AHI, please see our website at https://www.ahiworld.org.