The AHEPAN - Winter 2010/2011 - (Page 8)

AHEPA Conference Explores Emerging Relations Between Greece, Israel By Andrew Kaffes A HEPA hosted a foreign policy conference titled “Emerging Greek-Israeli Relations: What are the Next Steps?” on October 7, 2010, in Washington, DC. “The recent increased dialogue between Greece and Israel is an encouraging development,” said Supreme President Nicholas A. Karacostas. “Our aim was to shine a light on this development and identify what the possible areas of cooperation are between the two countries and explore how the Greek American and Jewish American communities can help augment and strengthen relations between them. I’m confident we achieved our goal based upon the reaction from our panelists and attendees, all of whom termed the conference as ‘groundbreaking’ and ‘historic.’” The conference featured four panels of experts from the diplomatic corps, academia, community organizations, and the military on the following topics: • Panel 1: What Does a Greek-Israeli Strategic Relationship Look Like? • Panel 2: Historical Background of GreekIsraeli Relations • Panel 3: National Issues & the Role of Community Organizations • Panel 4: The Dynamics of a Greek-Israeli Military Cooperation Panel 1 featured His Excellency Michael B. Oren, ambassador of Israel to the U.S. and His Excellency Vassilis Kaskarelis, ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to the U.S. After their presentations, Israeli Deputy Chief of Mission Dan Arbell and Greek Deputy Chief of Mission Ioannis Vrailas took questions from the audience. Ambassador Patrick Theros, principal, Theros & Theros LLP, and former American ambassador to Qatar, moderated the panel. Panel 2 featured Ekavi Athanassopoulou, senor research fellow, ELIAMEP, and Lecturer of International Relations at the University of Athens. Her panel was moderated by American Hellenic Institute (AHI) Executive Director Nick Larigakis. “Indeed, the current flurry of diplomatic activity is yet another stage in the rapprochement between the two states that has been gradually taking place during the last 20 years when Athens decided to move closer to Israel,” said Athanassopoulou at the beginning of her remarks. Jason Isaacson, director, Government and International Affairs, American Jewish Committee, and Dr. André Gerolymatos, professor and chair, Hellenic Studies, Simon Fraser University, were the participants of the third panel. AHEPA Cyprus & Hellenic Affairs Committee Member Savas Tsivikos moderated the panel. “By our physical presence and our subsequent discussions with Greek and Israeli officials, as well as by our messaging to our own and other constituencies, AJC has “AJC, for its part, will continue to speak out in support of this increasingly close and mutually beneficial relationship. As we do so, in partnership with AHEPA and many of the people in this room today, we will be mindful of the deep ties – and the remarkable similarities – between the Greek and Jewish nations.” – Jason Isaacson applauded and celebrated this closer relationship,” said Isaacson. “AJC, for its part, will continue to speak out in support of this increasingly close and mutually beneficial relationship. As we do so, in partnership with AHEPA and many of the people in this room today, we will be mindful of the deep ties – and the remarkable similarities – between the Greek and Jewish nations.” He concluded with an observation of the Greek and Jewish communities made by Winston Churchill: “No two races have set such a mark upon the world. Both have shown a capacity for survival, in spite of unending perils and sufferings from external oppressors, matched only 8 the ahepan Winter 2010-11 www.ahepa.org http://www.ahepa.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The AHEPAN - Winter 2010/2011

The AHEPAN - Winter 2010/2011
Contents
Supreme President’s Message
AHEPA Family News
AHEPA Conference Explores Emerging Relations Between Greece, Israel
Community Excellence Honored in New England
AHEPA Runners to the Front of the Marathon Line
AHEPA PAC News
The Newest Thing in Ancient History: The New National Hellenic Museum
Housing
AHEPA Family Chapter News
In Memoriam
The Periclean

The AHEPAN - Winter 2010/2011