Annual Report 2010

AMERICAN HELLENIC INSTITUTE AMERICAN HELLENIC INSTITUTE FOUNDATION AH ANNUAL REPORT 2010 Including AHI History 1974-2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction............................................................................................................................1 The 2010 Greek American Policy Statements ......................................................................2 Greece-Turkey Relations ........................................................................................................2 The Cyprus Problem ..............................................................................................................2 Macedonian Initiatives ..........................................................................................................2 The Ecumenical Patriarchate ................................................................................................3 Letters, Statements & Action Alerts ......................................................................................3 Legislative & Policy Initiatives ..............................................................................................4 Hellenic House Visitors..........................................................................................................6 Awards Dinners ......................................................................................................................8 Conferences ............................................................................................................................9 Events......................................................................................................................................9 Visits to Greece & Cyprus ....................................................................................................11 Media Relations ....................................................................................................................13 AHI Foundation Initiatives ..................................................................................................13 AHIF Fall 2010 Issue of Online Policy Journal ..................................................................15 Internship Program Policy ..................................................................................................15 Leadership, Awards & Staff News ........................................................................................15 The AHI Business Network ..................................................................................................15 Second Annual AHIF Foreign Policy Study Abroad Program ............................................16 AHI History: 1974-2010........................................................................................................17 American Hellenic Institute 1220 16th Street, NW • Washington, D.C. 20036 Tel. 202-785-8430 • Fax 202-785-5178 Web site: www.ahiworld.org • Email: [email protected] ANNUAL REPORT 2010 INTRODUCTION sive candidate survey. Twenty-six candi- the U.S. Commission on International Re- Dear Members and Friends: dates responded to the questionnaire and ligious Freedom’s“Watch List.” Turkish ag- a majority of which agreed with AHI’s po- gression in the Aegean is ongoing and t affords me great pleasure to present the sitions on the issues. the FYROM name-recognition issue re- I2010 AHI Annual Report. All of AHI’s Our “Noon Forum” series continued to mains at a stalemate. Both require our col- policy-based programs and initiatives that address policy, historic and cultural themes lective attention and action. advance the best interests of the United to create awareness and educate audiences With new leadership taking over in the States on issues of importance to Greek about Greek American issues. Topics ex- U.S. House of Representatives, AHI will Americans are encapsulated in this report. amined the significance of the Battle of work diligently to introduce it’s policy po- In 2010, AHI issued 90 press releases de- Crete, OXI Day, and Smyrna. We proudly sitions to approximately 100-plus new tailing our numerous activities. These ac- took some of these forums “on the road” members of Congress and continue our tivities included: the 35th Annual Hellenic to New York, Chicago, and Atlanta. ongoing work with one of our champions, Heritage Achievement and National Pub- Furthermore, we had a parade of visiting Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, lic Service Awards Dinner; the 9th annual dignitaries from Greece and Cyprus visit who is the new House Foreign Affairs “Future of Hellenism in America” confer- Hellenic House. This included new Cypriot Committee Chairman. Furthermore the ence; the 6th Annual Awards Dinner in Ambassador to the U.S. Pavlos Anastasi- Obama administration, well into its third ades, several ministers, deputy ministers, Athens; our annual“Congressional Salute year, will be looking to 2012. We must en- military officials, and scholars. Moreover, to Greek Independence Day” on Capitol sure that our issues remain at the forefront AHI leaders held important meetings with Hill; our annual trips to Greece and Cyprus, of the Obama Administration’s foreign pol- leading diplomats and Department of State including our Study Abroad Program; and icy agenda and that the policy commit- officials, including new U.S. Ambassador to ments he made to the community are kept. our public policy “Noon Forums.” Greece Daniel Smith and U.S. Ambassa- Finally, AHI looks to build upon the We also debuted new programming in dor to Cyprus Frank Urbancic; and offered momentum generated by uplifting new 2010 such as the documentary“Cyprus Still a briefing with State Department officials. programs like our study abroad initiative Divided: A U.S. Foreign Policy Failure” that AHI also joined with other Greek Ameri- for college students while exploring ad- aired on PBS and our landmark two-day can associations to bid farewell to Cypriot ditional ways to encourage growth in conference marking the 50th anniversary Ambassador Andreas Kakouris. commerce, trade, and investment be- of the Republic of Cyprus. In a historic first, We accomplished all of these initiatives tween the United States and Greece and AHI provided an address at the Hellenic under the leadership of then AHI presi- Cyprus. Also in 2011, AHI will launch a Parliament’s Old “Senate” Chamber. We dent, Alexandros Haralambides, and redesigned website that promises to be also continued to keep our audience in- thanks to the dedication of AHI’s Board more “user-friendly.” formed with our Policy Statements, Cap- of Directors and Policy Fellows. I am deeply grateful and appreciative ital Report, and foreign policy forums. of the members, officers and staff for their At AHI, the majority of our efforts focus 2011: A Year of Opportunity dedication. Everyone worked together to on advancing U.S. relations with Greece Awaits Us make 2010 another productive year. and Cyprus as in the best interests of the AHI will look to build upon the exciting Alongside our own activities in Wash- U.S., and to support the Greek American new programs and initiatives that it of- ington, AHI’s strength relies on the many community. To this effect, we engaged pol- fered in 2010. We are always looking for significant contributions and generous icy makers in the administration and Con- innovative ways to improve service to our support of our members. We also look to gress through numerous action alerts, membership base, to better address our you to communicate your suggestions, letters, testimony, and face-to-face meet- core agenda, and to cultivate opportuni- share your knowledge, and provide your ings with more than 70 congressional staff ties to positively influence the Greek insights so that we can continue to fulfill persons in 2010. When appropriate, AHI American community and U.S. relations the needs of our most valuable asset— showcased commentaries, letters, and op- with Greece and Cyprus. our members. ed pieces critical of Turkey’s foreign policy In 2011, our foreign policy challenges positions as well as crafting our own op- will be as intense as ever. We are already Thank you. eds and letters to the editor to mainstream seeing increased UN pressure and in- Warmest regards, and Greek American media outlets. volvement in the direct negotiations tak- In addition, with 2010 being an election ing place on the Cyprus issue. Although year, AHI worked to collect and record the 2010 saw a little progress with respect to positions of congressional candidates on religious freedom in Turkey, the plight of issues of importance to the Greek Amer- the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Patriar- ican community through a comprehen- chate continues and Turkey remains on Nicholas Larigakis, President Public Policy THE CYPRUS PROBLEM One of AHI’s primary objectives is to keep the Cyprus issue at THE 2010 GREEK AMERICAN POLICY the forefront of the policy debate in Washington. In this effort, STATEMENTS AHI hosted several events and meetings at which Cyprus was the topic of discussion. AHI’s landmark two-day conference In May, the American Hellenic Institute released its 2010 Pol- on the 50th Anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus is a prime icy Statements, which present issues affecting the Greek Amer- example. Moreover, AHI’s commitment to the Cyprus issue is ican community as they pertain to United States relations with demonstrated by two visits to Cyprus annually. Furthermore, Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey. The policy statements are dis- the release of the one-hour documentary“Cyprus

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