Greece’s Education Minister Commends AHI for its Study Abroad Program

AHI Welcomes Several Greek, Cypriot Officials to Hellenic House to Discuss Finance, Education

WASHINGTON, DC — The American Hellenic Institute welcomed high-level education, finance and banking officials from Greece and Cyprus to Hellenic House in October.  Greek Minister of Education Anna Diamantopoulou, visited October 15, 2010, and Mr. Yiannis Drimousis, secretary general, Greek ministry of Finance, and president, “Invest in Greece,” visited October 8, 2010. In addition, Mr. Athanasios Orphanides, governor, Central Bank of Cyprus, visited Hellenic House on October 9, 2010.

“We appreciated the opportunity to discuss matters pertaining to education, finance and commerce that are very important to the Greek American community,” said Executive Director Nick Larigakis.  “These are matters that are fundamental components of a strong U.S. relationship with Greece and Cyprus, and we continue to identify areas where AHI can help strengthen these ties.”

Minister Diamantopoulou spoke about the broad challenges of education issues and complimented AHI on its newly-established foreign policy study abroad program, which recently completed its second year.  Finally, AHI briefed the minister on its upcoming Ninth Annual “Future of Hellenism Conference” to be held November 20, 2010, in Los Angeles.  Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to the U.S. Vassilis Kaskarelis and Deputy Chief of Mission Ioannis Vrailas accompanied the minister.

Mr. Drimousis and Mr. Orphanides both updated AHI on the status of each economy in Greece and Cyprus.  In meetings with both officials, AHI looked to identify helpful ways to promote business opportunities and investment abroad.

“We welcome the value the dignitaries placed on AHI’s role in the Greek American community,” added Larigakis.  “We thank them for taking time out of their busy schedules to meet with us, and we look forward to helping in these vitals sectors wherever we can.”

The American Hellenic Institute is a non-profit Greek American think-tank and public policy center that works to strengthen relations between the United States and Greece and Cyprus, and within the Greek American community.

Education Minister Diamantopoulou with Executive Director Larigakis.

Athanasios Orphanides, Governor, Central Bank of Cyprus with Executive Director Nick Larigakis.

Yiannis Drimousis, Secretary General, Greek Ministry of Finance and President of “Invest in Greece” (center left), and his colleagues, visit with AHI Board of Directors Secretary Nick Karambelas (far right), AHI Advisory Committee Member Kostas Alexakis (third from left), and Executive Director Nick Larigakis (center right).

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For additional information, please contact Demetra Atsaloglou 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.