AHI Holds Annual Awards

The annual awards’ ceremony of the American Hellenic Institute was held in Washington. Four personalities of the Greek Diaspora, involved in American political life were honored this year for their contribution to the promotion of issues related to Greece, Cyprus and Hellenism worldwide.

With 39 full years in the struggle for the defense of human rights and for a fair solution to the Cypriot issue, the President of the International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA), Philip Christopher said he was touched by the award, but also gave a realistic assessment of the situation in the eastern Mediterranean, saying that “economy means foreign policy,” and expressed the hope that the energy reserves, the cooperation with Israel and the U.S.A and company participation in the exploratory efforts in the region, will change the balance of power.

“The message of respect to the religious freedom and the self-management of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople clearly passed through the awarding of the Order of St. Andrew, Archons”, Antonis Lymberakis, who received the award noted. He said he remains optimistic that despite the problems, the Theological School of Halki will open and the Patriarchate will be able to continue his work again.

From the American politics field, the American Hellenic Institute decided to honor this year the Republican Member from New York, Michael Grimm, for his contribution to promoting in Congress several philhellenic views and issues concerning the Greek Diaspora. Grimm, who represents the constituency where many Greek-Americans live, was one of the U.S. officials who brokered an agreement aimed at rebuilding the church of St. Nicholas in Manhattan, which was destroyed in the 9/11 attacks.

The peak moment of this year’s ceremony was the awarding of Ambassador Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, who is currently touring in the U.S.A, where her new book My Greek Drama, is going to be published in May.