Within the framework of his visit to the U.S., Deputy Foreign Minister Kyriakos Gerontopoulos travelled to New York, where he participated in the Greek American community’s events marking Greek Independence Day. Mr. Gerontopoulos attended the annual parade, which took place on 5th Avenue this year, together with Archbishop Demetrios of America, Greek American members of congress, the mayor of New York, American politicians and thousands of members of the Greek American community.
On Saturday evening, Mr. Gerontopoulos addressed an event held by the organizers of the parade, and on Sunday morning he attended the mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. At the pre-parade gathering point, he stated the following:
“The Greek American community here in New York is showing again, with this year’s parade marking Greek Independence Day – the War of Independence of 1821 – that they know how to honor those who shed their blood and gave their lives in the struggle for our homeland’s freedom. They retain – undiminished in their souls, hearts and minds – their love for Greece and make all of us proud.
Greece and the United States fought together in two world wars, against all forms of totalitarianism. We are linked by the pan-human ideals of freedom and democracy. We thank you, because through your successful presence here, in every sector of economic, scientific, family, professional and personal life, you helped to reverse the negative image that foreigners formed of our homeland in recent years. At the same time, I assure you that the situation is improving. We are overcoming the crisis, and smiles will soon return to the Greek people.
On Sunday evening, Mr. Gerontopoulos visited Astoria’s Stathakion Cultural Center, the headquarters of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York. He talked with the Federation’s president, Elias Tsekerides, and secretary general and parade chairman Petros Galatoulas, whom he congratulated on the excellent organization, as well as with members of the Greek American community who had gathered for the annual celebration following the parade.
March 31, 2014