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From left to right, James Kousoulas, AHC President Mike Galanakis, Board Member Kathy Tavoularis, Rep. John Campbell (R-CA), Demo Zeppos & Executive Director Alexander Mizan |
During January, members of the American Hellenic Council met with several federally elected officials in California and discussed issues of concern to the Greek-American community. In particular, active AHC members from Orange County met with Rep. John Campbell (R – Irvine), who was recently appointed Chairman of the US House Subcommittee on Monetary Policy and Trade and which oversees the IMF. In a meeting attended by local active members Demo Zeppos & James Kousoulas as well as by Board Members Kathy Tavoularis & President Michael Galanakis, the AHC delegation exchanged views on how the US can help the EU and Greece emerge faster from the sovereign debt crisis. AHC members shared the view that it might be beneficial for the world economy if the US urged the EU to further negotiate Greece's official debt down to sustainable levels, a position that the IMF has allegedly taken in the most recent negotiations of the November 2012 Eurogroup meeting.
In other meetings, members of the AHC in Southern California met with Rep. Henry Waxman (D- West Los Angeles) and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Pasadena/Burbank).
In both meetings the issues discussed included the recent developments
related to Natgas exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean. AHC members
argued that the US should stand by joint efforts on behalf of
Cyprus and Israel to explore and develop energy recourses in the area
and should urge Turkey to stop verbal threats against the two countries
as these destabilize the 
area.
Discussions also included the proposed grant of two US Navy Frigates to
Turkey, a move that the AHC members expressed opposition to. In Northern California, local members of the AHC met with Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) and updated her on the latest developments on issues such as the lack of religious freedom in Turkey to the FYROM name dispute and the Cyprus problem. The meeting was attended by active Northern California members Dr. Nicholas & Janine
Economides,
and Angelo & Anna Sakkis. In addition, the AHC Executive Director
also met with representatives from the office of Rep. Mike Honda (D-San Jose) and raised awareness about several items of concern to our community. Overall, the meetings were productive and in all occasions the Members of Congress were briefed on the difficult time that the Greek population is having due to the economic crisis as well as on all the latest developments related to security issues in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The AHC representatives urged them to join the Hellenic Caucus as well as the newly-formed Congressional Israeli-Hellenic Alliance, a new bipartisan caucus formed by Rep. Bilirakis (R-FL) & Rep. Deutch (D-FL) that is seeking to promote security and trade cooperation between US allies Israel and Greece.
Copyright - AHC 2013
