AHI Founder Honored by American Hellenic Council of California

WASHINGTON, DC — The American Hellenic Council of California honored American Hellenic Institute (AHI) Founder Eugene T. Rossides at its 40th Annual Honors Dinner Dance, April 25, 2015, Los Angeles.

“I am deeply grateful for this wonderful honor from the American Hellenic Council of California, which has done so much to help Greek Americans advocate in California,” AHI Founder Rossides said. “It’s also humbling to be honored among a distinguished group of accomplished Hellenes.”

In acceptance, Rossides spoke about the days following Turkey’s invasion of the Republic of Cyprus in July 1974. He recounted his meetings on July 22, 1974 with State Department officials, which led to the disappointing realization that the United States was not going to apply U.S. law and stop arms to Turkey and was not going to intervene and take action to reverse Turkey’s illegal invasion. As a result, Rossides founded the American Hellenic Institute a few weeks later on August 1, 1974.

Rossides was honored alongside prominent Hellenes: John P. Calamos, founder, CEO, and chairman, Calamos Investments; Ambassador Eleni Kounalakis, former U.S. ambassador to Hungary; and Peter Economides, owner and founder, Felix BNI. Demetrios Boutris, former California Corporations Commissioner, served as the event’s Master of Ceremonies.

Rossides Book Presentation

In addition, Rossides made a presentation on his recently released book Kissinger & Cyprus: A Study in Lawlessness at the Sutter Club, April 24, 2015. Angelo and Sofia Tsakopoulos sponsored the event and the American Hellenic Professional Society and CSUS, Hellenic Studies Program, sponsored the program. A book-signing and Q&A session were also held.

Furthermore, event organizers surprised Rossides and presented AHI’s founder with the first Hellenic Spirit Award.

“We thank Angelo and Sofia Tsakopoulos and the program sponsors for graciously providing a forum for Mr. Rossides to speak about his new book and how it relates to the current situation in Cyprus today,” AHI President Nick Larigakis said. “We also appreciate the honor bestowed upon Mr. Rossides.”

In response to a request, Larigakis made a presentation about the current state of affairs between Cyprus, Greece, Turkey and the United States and AHI’s programs and initiatives that work to meet the Institute’s mission.

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.