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Indiana Senator Blocks Greek Independence Day Resolution; Upsets Greek-Americans

Senator Coats is blocking a Senate resolution for Greek Independence.

U.S. Sen. Dan Coats (R-IN) has placed a hold on the 30th consecutive passing of a U.S. Senate resolution honoring Greek Independence Day. The Senator’s stance has managed to upset Greek-Americans throughout the country.

The American Hellenic Institute (AHI), a non-profit Greek American think tank, sent a letter today to U.S. Sen. Dan Coats (R-IN) expressing disappointment for his action to place a hold on S.Res.105, a resolution recognizing the 194th anniversary of the independence of Greece and celebrating democracy in Greece and the United States and keeping the U.S. Senate from passing the resolution.

The senator is holding the resolution based upon comments made by Greece’s Minister of Defense Panos Kammenos.

“We are extremely disappointed that Senator Dan Coats has taken such drastic action to express concern about the minister’s flippant comment,” AHI President Nick Larigakis said.

“Greece’s contributions to the security interests of both the United States and NATO are quite clear and evident. Our letter details Greece’s unwavering commitment to United States security policy and should alleviate any concern the senator has about it.”

Larigakis added, “We urge the Greek American community to contact Senator Coats today and urge him to let S.Res.105 pass.”

The Indiana Senator had sent earlier a letter to Christos Panagopoulos, Ambassador of Greece to the United States, expressing concern about the statements made by Panos Kammenos, the Minister of Defense of Greece.

Earlier this month, Minister Kammenos warned Greece’s European Union partners that Greece would issue travel documents to thousands of illegal immigrants now held in Greek detention centers unless Greece’s economic demands are met.

In his letter to Ambassador Panagopoulos, Coats wrote, “I believe it is in your interest as well as ours that you or another senior spokesman of the Greek government publicly comment on those threatening statements and clarify whether they reflect current policy or thinking within your government. With such clarification, I hope I will be able to support the Senate resolution regarding Greek independence and our shared democratic traditions.”

The American Hellenic Institute encourages the community, especially the Greek American community of Indiana, to contact U.S. Senator Dan Coats’ office, and urge the senator to remove his hold on S.Res.105.

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