D. AVRAMOPOULOS: It was a great pleasure to receive the President of the Board of Directors of the American Hellenic Institute, Mr. Larigakis, and the members of the Board of Directors today.
We had the opportunity to exchange views, in general, on the developments in our region, on our national issues, and to note the very useful role the AHI plays in the U.S. – raising awareness among the public and among prominent figures regarding Greek issues – as well as the important strategic role our country plays in the wider region.
At a time when our relations with the U.S. are being upgraded and Greece is active in all regional issues, contributing with its ideas and initiatives to the strengthening of peace, security and stability, it is important that, in parallel with our own efforts and policy, the AHI is implementing its own initiatives in the U.S. in order to promote the country’s new image after and beyond the economic crisis.
I would like to thank him very much for today’s meeting and, of course, congratulate him on the excellent work he carries out on our homeland’s behalf.
N. LARIGAKIS: Thank you very much. I would also like to thank the Minister for the warm meeting we had today with the AHI delegation, which comes to Greece for an official visit once a year.
I thank him once again for his very warm words regarding the AHI, which has, for 39 years, been carrying out this work in the U.S., in Washington, doing its best to promote national interests, whether regarding Macedonia, the Aegean, the Cyprus issue, Greek-Turkish issues.
As Americans, of course, we promote these issues as well as we can in the U.S., in Congress, at the White House, at the State Department. We are visiting Greece to exchange views and to report on our activities regarding some of these issues, and also so that we can look at any other issues that we might be able to point up in the U.S.
We always work to upgrade Greek-U.S. relations. I think it is vital that we cultivate these relations, which are historical, and we want to contribute in this direction as much as we can. Thank you.
May 13, 2013