[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 34 (Thursday, March 23, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E408]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY

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                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 23, 2000

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, it is with profound pleasure 
that I speak today in honor of the 179th Anniversary that marks 
Greece's declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire. Greece 
had remained under the Ottoman Empire for almost 400 years. Even though 
they were deprived of all of their civil rights during this time they 
continued to educate their children in their culture, their language, 
and their religion under the threat of death. On March 25, we celebrate 
this courage on the 179th Anniversary of freedom and independence in 
Greece.
  I wish we had more to celebrate--to be able to celebrate on Greek 
Independence Day the return of the Elgin Marbles to their homeland. 
Taken from Greece in 1806, these ancient sculptures from the Acropolis 
of Athens have been on view in the British Museum. In this age of open 
communication, friendship, and a unified Europe, lets hope that these 
marbles will soon be returned to their home.
  This year the Greek Independence Day parade will be honoring His 
Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of 
America. I join with my Hellenic neighbors in honoring him on the 
auspicious occasion of the Greek Independence Day Parade.
  I am very fortunate and privileged to represent the largest Hellenic 
community outside of Athens, one of the most vibrant communities of 
Hellenic Americans in this country. It is truly one of my greatest 
pleasures as a Member of Congress to be able to participate in the life 
of this community, and the wonderful and vital Hellenic American 
friends that I have come to know are one of its greatest rewards.
  While commemorative resolutions are no longer allowed in the House, 
there is enormous support for Greek Independence Day among my 
colleagues. In 1993, inspired by the strong Hellenic American presence 
in my own congressional district, I co-founded, and now Co-Chair, the 
Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues. The Caucus is composed of 
seventy-two, bipartisan members who are committed to bringing the 
voices of Hellenic Americans to the floor of the U.S. Capitol. Since 
its beginning in 1993, the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues has 
grown in both size and strength to foster and improve relations between 
the United States and Greece. The Hellenic Caucus serves to strengthen 
the voice of Hellenic Americans in promoting legislation, monitoring 
and arranging briefings on current events, and disseminating 
information to all Congressional Members on such important developments 
as the renewed talks between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, U.S. 
aid to Greece and Cyprus, and the continued conflict in the Aegean.
  In the coming year, may we see peace in the Aegean, justice in 
Cyprus, peace in Northern Greece, and the restoration of human rights 
to the many cultures and people suffering throughout the world. As we 
celebrate the 179th anniversary of Greek Independence and the special 
bond of friendship between our two countries, I would like to leave you 
with a quote from Percy Shelley, ``We are all Greeks! Our laws, our 
literature, our art, have their roots in Greece.''

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