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AHI Submits Testimony to House Appropriations Subcommittee on FY2014 Foreign Aid to Southeastern Europe, Eastern Mediterranean
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Georgea Polizos
March 20, 2013—No. 18 (202) 785-8430

AHI Submits Testimony to House Appropriations Subcommittee on FY2014 Foreign Aid to Southeastern Europe, Eastern Mediterranean

WASHINGTON, DC — The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) submitted testimony to the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs on foreign aid proposals for FY2014 on March 20, 2013. 

In the best interests of the United States, AHI’s testimony opposed:

  1. any military assistance the administration will request for Turkey until Turkey removes its troops and illegal Turkish settlers in Cyprus;
  2. aid the administration will request for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM); and
  3. any reduction that might be introduced in the aid levels for the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus.

In addition, the testimony strongly opposed any reduction of Economic Support Fund (ESF) funding for Cyprus.  However, AHI testified that it supports continued ESF funding for Cyprus as long as it is tied exclusively to bi-communal projects of the island as mandated by U.S. law.  The law states U.S. funds are to support only “measures aimed at reunification.”

“It is vital to ensure the Greek American community’s positions on American foreign aid to this region are submitted for the public record via the subcommittee’s acceptance of written testimony, especially in a challenging budgetary environment,” said President Nick Larigakis, who submitted the testimony.  “We thank the subcommittee for the opportunity to submit our testimony which is presented with the best interest of the United States in mind.”

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs is chaired by U.S. Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX).  U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), who is the ranking member of the full appropriations committee, is also the subcommittee’s ranking member.

The American Hellenic Institute is a non-profit Greek American public policy center 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 Georgea Polizos at (202) 785-8430 or at pr@ahiworld.org. For general information about the activities of AHI, please see our Web site at https://www.ahiworld.org.