[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 35 (Wednesday, March 25, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S2582]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  COMMEMORATION OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE

 Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise to commemorate the 177th 
Anniversary of the beginning of the revolution that won Greece's 
independence from the Ottoman Empire. I was proud to join with fifty-
one of my colleagues in sponsoring Senate Resolution 171 which 
designates today ``Greek Independence Day: A National Day of 
Celebration of Greek and American Democracy.''
  The strong ties between the United States and Greece extend back to 
the birth of this nation. Indeed, the Founding Fathers looked to the 
principles formulated by the Greek philosophers when composing the 
governing documents of the United States. As Thomas Jefferson stated, 
``to the ancient Greeks . . . we are all indebted for the light which 
led ourselves out of Gothic darkness.'' America owes much to the Greeks 
for all they have given us, then and now.
  The Greeks have been members of my state's communities for over one 
hundred years. Over 6,000 residents of Rhode Island claimed Greek 
heritage in the last Census. When they first came to the state they 
worked in the factories and on the shores. Today, the descendants of 
these first immigrants continue to prosper and enrich the state and 
rest of the country through their contributions to banking, medicine, 
the tourism industry and the arts.
  Although today we commemorate the Greek victory over 400 years of 
domination by the Ottoman Empire, we must also remember that Greece is 
still not able to celebrate complete peace and freedom. Almost twenty-
four years ago, Turkey invaded Cyprus and today 35,000 troops continue 
to occupy over 40% of the island and inflict human rights abuses on the 
660,000 Cypriots. Recently, I was proud to sign on as a cosponsor of a 
concurrent resolution which calls for the U.S. to encourage the end of 
restrictions on the freedoms and human rights of the enclaved people in 
the occupied area of Cyprus. We must continue to work to resolve the 
Cyprus problem and reduce the tensions that exist between Greece and 
Turkey.
  But, for today, let us celebrate the anniversary of Greek 
Independence, the richness of the Greek heritage and the legacy of 
democracy that country gave to the world.

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