President Obama’s Greece Visit an Opportunity to Address Debt Relief, Support for Greece’s Sovereignty in Aegean

WASHINGTON, DC — The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) sent a letter to President Barack Obama, requesting him to address debt relief and to support Greece’s sovereignty in the Aegean Sea as he prepares to visit Greece, November 15, 2016.  

In the October 27 letter, AHI President Nick Larigakis stated the Institute’s appreciation for the Obama Administration’s support of NATO ally Greece during its debt and refugee crises.  Larigakis cited Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew’s July visit to Greece where he made the case for debt relief, a policy shift by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), which was backed by AHI; and U.S. humanitarian aid.

Because President Obama’s travel itinerary also includes a visit to Germany, Larigakis requested the president to include debt relief for Greece on the meeting agenda with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Larigakis added that despite these unprecedented two crises, Greece remains a steadfast contributor to the defense efforts of NATO and to the projection of U.S. strategic interests in the eastern Mediterranean via NSA Souda Bay, Crete. However, the projection of U.S. interests depends heavily on the region’s stability, wrote Larigakis.

“The U.S. has a stake in fostering good relations between NATO allies in the region,” wrote Larigakis. “[The visit] provides an opportunity to highlight key policy positions on Greece’s sovereignty in the Aegean Sea and respect for the Treaty of Lausanne both of which are in the best interests of the United States.”

• Read: AHI’s letter to President Obama

The American Hellenic Institute is an independent 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 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.