The AHEPAN - Fall 2015 - 15

Report of the Cyprus and Hellenic Affairs Committee
93rd Annual AHEPA Supreme Convention
The following report was approved by the General Session of
the 93rd Annual Supreme Convention on July 3, 2015:
The Order of AHEPA will continue to work to strengthen
the AHEPA Grass Roots Network, which uniquely distinguishes
the AHEPA from all other Greek American organizations, and
which if adequately developed, can serve as its most effective
tool for the promotion of Greek American interests and ideals.
AHEPA will continue its efforts to grow the Hellenic
Caucus in the House of Representatives, which now stands at
120. Our goal for 2015-16 is to grow the caucus to at least 150
members in the 114th Congress, which ends December 2016
AHEPA is concerned about the growth of the Congressional
Turkish Caucus, which is numbered at 140 and now exceeds
the Hellenic Caucus for the first time.
AHEPA will continue to support H.Res.154, the Armenian
Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution.
AHEPA applauds all efforts to lift the U.S arms embargo on
Cyprus and pledges to contribute the effort to assist with the
passage of an amendment in the U.S. Congress that speaks to
the issue.
AHEPA will seek to strengthen relations with other appropriate Greek American organizations in order to more effectively fulfill its mission, as it relates to Greece, Cyprus, the
Ecumenical Patriarchate and to issues involving the FYROM,
the Greek minority in Albania, and the Aegean Sea.
AHEPA will continue to work to strengthen relations with
American Jewish organizations and collaborate on issues
of mutual interest in the spirit of the successful historic
Leadership Mission that took place in January 2014. The
Committee endorses the notion of a second Leadership
Mission in 2016.
AHEPA will continue to speak out against extremism on
both sides of the political spectrum and condemns all forms of
intolerance, hate speech, bigotry, and discrimination fostered
by extremist elements.
In addition the Committee:
* Echoes the statement issued by Supreme President
Phillip Frangos on current developments with Greece's
debt crisis, especially the call for the Obama administration to step-up its engagement on the issue. Furthermore,
the Committee encourages AHEPA to keep sensitive to
the needs of the Greek people, who have suffered greatly
during this crisis; and to continue with its humanitarian
aid whenever possible. The Committee's hope is that
integrity of the European Union is maintained.
* Regardless of the outcome of the referendum held in
Greece on July 5, 2015, what is crucial to the Greek
American community is that U.S.-Greece relations
remain strong and certain and Greece's geostrategic
importance and contributions to the security interests of

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the U.S. and NATO is valued and appreciated.
* Is encouraged by the resumption of settlement talks
on Cyprus and the effort by the leadership to promote
reconciliation between the communities, which should
pave the way for just and viable agreement that will lead
to a reunified Cyprus with a single sovereignty, single
international personality and single citizenship within
the European Union; and with its independence and
territorial integrity safeguarded as described in the relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions. Furthermore, the
Committee maintains that the key to a successful settlement rests in Ankara and urges the United States to put
pressure on Turkey that the latter must the remove its
40,000 troops from the island thus facilitating progress
of the ongoing settlement talks.
Furthermore, the Committee recommended AHEPA examine the following:
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.
AHEPA National will grant consideration to encouraging
chapters to submit a voluntary $100 contribution to the
AHEPA Cyprus & Hellenic Affairs Committee.
For AHEPA to communicate the work of the Committee or
initiatives the Committee undertakes through its avenues of
mass distribution.
Moreover, the Committee collected $1,440 in donations,
including pledges, at the adjournment of our committee
meeting.
This report was compiled with the assistance of Andrew
Kaffes.
Respectfully submitted,
Standing Committee Members Present
Carl Hollister, Chairman & Region 5
Savas Tsivicos, Region 3
Vassos Chrysanthou, Board of Trustees & Region 3
Tom Gober, Supreme Treasurer & Region 6
Alex Christy, Region 8
Convention Committee & Guests
Ken Matziorinis, Canadian President
Tasos Kalantzis, PSG
Peter Andreoglou
Bill Bakalis
John Soudas
Bill Herald

Fall 2015 · THE AHEPAN

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