AHI Submits Testimony to House Appropriations Subcommittee on FY2017 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 the Obama Administration’s foreign aid proposals for FY2017 on March 24, 2016. 

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

• any military assistance the administration will request for Turkey until Turkey removes its troops and illegal Turkish settlers from Cyprus;
• aid the administration will request for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) as long as it is not tied-in to FYROM’s commitment to negotiate in good faith to find a solution to the unresolved issue between Greece and FYROM over the name of the latter; and
• any reduction that might be introduced in the aid levels for the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus.

In addition, AHI’s testimony recommended that should a settlement to reunify Cyprus be reached via referendum, United States foreign assistance can help solidify a reunified Cyprus and its government during the post-referendum transition period.  

“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,” President Nick Larigakis, who authored the testimony, said.  “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.

• To read AHI’s testimony, please click here. 

The American Hellenic Institute is a non-profit Greek American public policy center and think tank 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 atpr@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.