The Ahepan Fall 2017 - 21

CYPRUS AND HELLENIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

In addition, the Committee:
AHEPA Cyprus & Hellenic Affairs Committee Report-Page 2

o Calls for continued high-level engagement by the United States on Greece's economic and migratory crises,
the Cyprus issue, and U.S.-Cyprus bilateral relations.

o Reaffirms AHEPA's statement on the close of the Conference on Cyprus that ended disappointingly without having

reached an agreement due to Turkish intransigence (see https://www.ahepanews.org/single-post/2017/07/07/
AHEPA-Statement-on-Closure-of-Conference-of-Cyprus-without-Agreement).

o Is deeply concerned and opposed to Turkey's egregious violations of Greece's sovereignty via overflights of

Greece's airspace and encroachment in Greece's territorial waters, all of which inflame tensions and can lead
to unintended consequences.

o Is deeply concerned about the direction of Turkey's democratic institutions, including recent examples

of human rights and academic suppression; and this concern raises the question as to whether Turkey is
becoming more of liability than an asset to the United States.

Furthermore, the Committee recommended AHEPA examine the following:

o That Supreme Lodge and District Lodge officers, upon their visitations, include in their remarks or addresses
at meetings and other events, the need to seek individuals to serve on the Cyprus & Hellenic Affairs
Committee and for individuals to join AHEPA's Congressional Grass Roots Network.

o AHEPA will provide annual financial funding in the amount of $20,000 for the Cyprus and Hellenic Affairs

Committee, in order to strengthen its communications capabilities, to permit holding educational symposiums,
and to permit printing of educational materials.

o

AHEPA National will grant consideration to encouraging chapters to submit a voluntary $100 contribution to
the AHEPA Cyprus & Hellenic Affairs Committee.

o

AHEPA to communicate the work of the Committee or initiatives the Committee undertakes through its
avenues of mass distribution.

o

Ways to foster increased participation in Capitol Hill Day.

Finally, the Committee welcomed the participation of AHEPA Australasia Supreme President Peter Yiannoudes, who
shared his perspective on the Greek Australian community's work on public policy issues.
This report was compiled with the assistance of Andrew Kaffes.
Respectfully submitted,
Convention Committee & Guests
Chris Diamantoukos, Supreme Governor
Vassos Chrysanthou, Board of Trustees
Peter Yiannoudes, AHEPA Australasia National President
George Papageorge, Past Supreme Governor

Tom Gober, Past Supreme Treasurer
Nick Kavadas, Past Supreme Governor
Gus Constantine
Marios Stephanides

www.ahepa.org

Fall 2017 · THE AHEPAN

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https://www.ahepanews.org/single-post/2017/07/07/AHEPA-Statement-on-Closure-of-Conference-of-Cyprus-without-Agreement https://www.ahepanews.org/single-post/2017/07/07/AHEPA-Statement-on-Closure-of-Conference-of-Cyprus-without-Agreement https://www.ahepanews.org/single-post/2017/07/07/AHEPA-Statement-on-Closure-of-Conference-of-Cyprus-without-Agreement http://www.ahepa.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Ahepan Fall 2017