NEW YORK, NY– [Photos: Manatos & Manatos]
On September 20, Prime Minister of Greece Mitsotakis hosted a working luncheon with two representatives of each of the 17 Greek – American, national and regional, organizations that co-hosted a reception in his honor earlier in the week, which he was unable to attend due to the catastrophic flooding in Greece.
For over one hour the Prime Minister and the community leaders held an in-depth discussion on issues of importance to Greece and the Greek-American community.
The event took place at the residence of Greece’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
Welcoming remarks were offered by Archbishop Elpidophoros and Mike Manatos, President of the Washington, DC lobbying firm of Manatos and Manatos.
In his address Prime Minister Mitsotakis, referring to the Cyprus issue, reiterated “his firm commitment to a solution to the Cyprus problem that will fully respect the decisions of the United Nations Security Council. For Greece”, he said “any solution outside these parameters, any notion or any discussion about a two-state solution is simply not acceptable and this is something that I had the opportunity to communicate again today to President Erdoğan”.
Regarding the course of the Greek economy and the upgrade of the country’s investment grade rating, the Prime Minister stressed: “It’s probably the last step in this long and arduous process to leave behind us a very painful decade. And indeed, the economy is doing extremely well. We’re growing much faster than the rest of the eurozone. Not only will there be no recession in Greece, but we expect to grow by more than 2% this year. We continue to attract significant foreign investment and we’re constantly strengthening the Greek brand across various sectors and making sure that Greece is punching above its weight, whether it comes to issues related to the European Union or whether it comes to our broader region”.
On the first law passed after the elections, which ensures the removal of all obstacles in order for Greeks abroad to vote from their permanent place of residence, Kyriakos Mitsotakis said: “I think that in this way there will be a much more active participation of Greeks abroad, of the Diaspora, of the Greek Diaspora of the United States in the civic affairs of our country. Only good can come from a greater, more systematic participation in public life, and I am particularly glad that we have managed to convince the other parties that we must move in this direction”.
The event was also attended by Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandra Papadopoulou, Greece’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris, and Consul General of Greece in New York Dinos Konstantinou.
Among the attendees [photos] were AHEPA Supreme President, Savas Tsivikos, Executive Director, Bill Mossaides, AHI President, Nick Larigakis, “L-100” President and Executive Director, Jim Logothetis and Paulette Poulos, respectively, PSEKA President, Philip Christopher, FCAO President, Kyriacos Papastylianou, NJ Hellenic Federation President Peter Stavrianides and VP Despina Kolokithas, HACC Chairman Markos Drakotos and President Clay Maitland, and Hellenic Medical Society VP, Dr. Lorraine Chrysomallis.