This conference once again — unlike any other in our community and like select few of all ethnic communities in the U.S. — engages large numbers of Senators, Members of Congress and Administration officials who actually formulate U.S. policy toward Greece, Cyprus and Turkey.
PSEKA and CEH, who sponsored this conference, brought together over 100 Greek-American leaders from across the country with 29 key Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, 11 key U.S. Senators and over 15 key Administration officials from the White House and State Department. Some of the key policymakers with whom Greek-American leaders met at this conference included:
From the U.S. House of Representatives:
- The Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee;
- 4 of the 7 Chairmen of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittees;
- Just under 1/3 of the members of the House Europe Subcommittee;
- A total of 12 members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee;
- The Chair of the powerful House Appropriations Committee’s State, Foreign Operations Subcommittee;
- Six of the “Greek-American” Members of Congress;
- The Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues;
- A total of 29 of the top advocates for Hellenic and Orthodox issues in the House;
From the U.S. Senate:
- The Chair of the Senate European Affairs Subcommittee;
- Just under 1/3 of the members of the full Senate Foreign Relations Committee;
- Three members of the Senate Democratic Leadership, including the Assistant Majority Leader;
- Members of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee’s State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee;
- Over 1/10 of all United States Senators;
- A total of 11 of the top advocates for Hellenic and Orthodox issues in the Senate.
Those honored at this conference included: Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg [the 2010 recipient of the Frizis Award]; The Cuban-American Members of Congress: Chairman of the DSCC and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Member, Senator Bob MenendezIleana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Albio Sires (D-NJ), Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL) and Mario Diaz-BalartTed Poe (R-TX); Chairman of the Helsinki Commission and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Member, Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Greek-American Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) [the 2010 recipient of the Paraskevaides Award] – both of whom were introduced by former Senator Paul Sarbanes; Greek-American Member of Congress Dina Titus (D-NV); posthumously, Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA), whose award was accepted by Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), and long-time senior advisor to the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Alan Makovsky [the 2010 recipient of the Conalis-Kontou Award]. As well, the conference banquet was in honor of three long-time conference participants who sadly passed away since last year’s conference: George Panichas, Lambros Papantoniou and George Hajifanis.
Officials from Greece and Cyprus who participated in this conference included Cyprus Government Spokesman, Stefanos Stefanou as well as the Ambassador of Cyprus to the U.S., Andreas Kakouris; Ambassador of Greece to the US Vassilis Kaskarelis; Members of the Hellenic Parliament Eva Kaili and Canadian Parliament James Karygiannis; the Mayors of occupied Famagusta, Cyprus, Alexis GalanosMichalis Pilikos. As well, President of the World Federation of Overseas Cypriots, Haris Sophoclides, participated in this conference.
CEH Board Members participating in this conference included: Philip Christopher, Andrew A. Athens, Andy Manatos, Peter Papanicolaou, Nikos Mouyiaris, George J. Tsunis, Michael Galanakis, Endy Zemenides, Mike Manatos, Tasos D. Zambas, Zenon Christodoulou, George Dovellos and Basil Simon.
CEH leaders included in their conference the heads of several other major Greek-American organizations including: AHEPA Supreme Vice President Nick Karacostas; SAE Coordinator of for the U.S. Ted Spyropoulos; and a representative from AHI. (D-NJ) and Representatives and Lefkoniko, Cyprus, (R-FL); House Europe Subcommittee member, Congressman
Andrew A. Athens, Chairman, National Coordinated Effort of Hellenes (CEH); National Chairman, United Hellenic American Congress (UHAC), Honorary President, World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE)
Philip Christopher, Vice Chair, National Coordinated Effort of Hellenes (CEH); President, International Coordinating Committee–Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA); President, Pancyprian Association of America
Andrew E. Manatos, President, National Coordinated Effort of Hellenes (CEH); Executive Board Member, UHAC and PSEKA
Panikos Papanicolaou, Supreme President, Cyprus Federation of America
Nikos Mouyiaris, Executive Vice President, Pancyprian Association of America
George J. Tsunis, Chairman/CEO Chartwell Hotels
Michael Galanakis, President, American Hellenic Council of California
Tasos D. Zambas, Alternate President, PSEKA; Chairman, Justice Committee, Cyprus Federation of America
Endy Zemenides, President, Hellenic American Leadership Council; Vice President, PSEKA
Dr. Zenon Christodoulou, Founding President. New Jersey Hellenic American Heritage Commission
George Dovellos, Board of Directors, United Hellenic American Congress (UHAC)
Cathy Papoulias-Sakellaris
Chrysa Tsakopoulos, Vice President, AKT Development Company
Basil Simon, Greek Caucus, Michigan Democratic Party
