Indiana Senator Lifts Hold on Greek Independence Day Resolution; Commends Community’s Collective Work

WASHINGTON, DC — The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) is pleased U.S. Sen. Dan Coats (R-IN) lifted his hold yesterday on S.Res.105, a resolution recognizing the 194th anniversary of the independence of Greece and celebrating democracy in Greece and the United States, after receiving a letter of clarification from Ambassador of Greece to the United States Christos Panagopoulos. The senator placed a hold on the resolution based upon comments made by Greece’s Minister of Defense Panos Kammenos that kept it from advancing. However, after Senator Coats lifted his hold, the resolution, which was sponsored by U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), passed by unanimous consent on March 27, 2015, with 28 co-sponsors.

“We congratulate the entire Greek American community for coming together to advance the resolution,” AHI President Nick Larigakis said.  “It is important to recognize just what can be accomplished for the advancement of U.S.-Greece relations and interests when we work together.”

Larigakis commended the Coordinated Effort of Hellenes (CEH), and its executive director, Mike Manatos, for bringing the legislative hold to the community’s attention; AHEPA, and its executive director, Basil Mossaidis, for its grassroots mobilization; and the Hellenic American Leadership Council, and its executive director, Endy Zemenides, for creating awareness through its social media network.

AHI immediately sent a letter to Senator Coats detailing Greece’s contributions to the security interests of the U.S. and NATO and urged the Greek American community to flood the senator with calls.

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.

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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 website at https://www.ahiworld.org and follow us on Twitter @TheAHIinDC.