[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 28, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H1454]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN CELEBRATION OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I too would like to join my 
colleagues, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gekas) in honor of the 179th 
anniversary that marks the Greek's national day of independence, and I 
thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) for organizing a 
special order each year to celebrate Greek Independence Day.
  Greece had remained under the Ottoman empire for almost 400 years; 
400 years that Greek people were deprived of all their civil rights. 
Even under the threat of death, Greeks fought back by continuing to 
educate their children in their culture, their language, and their 
religion. On March 25, we celebrate this courage; this the 179th 
anniversary of freedom and independence for Greece.
  I wish we had more to celebrate today, to be able to celebrate the 
return of the Elgin Marbles to their homeland. The Elgin Marbles are 
magnificent sculptures that were created to adorn the Parthenon. Their 
detail and beauty are even more profound when one knows these 
sculptures were actually carved into the Parthenon itself after it had 
been constructed. However, in 1806, these sculptures were removed, 
sometimes broken in half, and transported to England. They are now in 
view in the British museum, far away from their native land.
  In this age of open communication, friendship, and a unified Europe, 
we must work together to see that these marbles will soon be returned 
to their homeland. In this respect, I join my colleagues, the gentleman 
from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Gilman) in their House Resolution stating the importance of returning 
the Elgin Marbles back to Greece.
  I am also very pleased to have welcomed today Dimitris Avramopoulos, 
the mayor of Athens, to Washington. He joined members of the Hellenic 
Caucus and other Members of Congress today for a discussion on the 
progress that Athens has made in becoming a global partner and leader 
and city. Through his efforts, the mayor's, he has made Athens a 
leading contributor to cities around the world in policy; and he has 
diligently worked to create a forum for mayors from other cities and 
capitals throughout the world to work together on their common goals.
  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 our country. It is truly a very great pleasure 
for me to co-chair the Hellenic Caucus and to represent so many fine 
friends from Greece in my district. The caucus now has a record 72 
bipartisan membership who are committed to bringing the voices of 
Hellenic Americans to the floor of the United States capitol, as we are 
tonight. We continue to strengthen the voice of Hellenic Americans in 
promoting legislation, monitoring and arranging of briefings on current 
events and handing out 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 
dispute in the Aegean.
  In the coming year, we hope to see peace and justice in the Aegean, 
and justice, finally, in Cyprus after so many years of illegal 
occupation and invasion. And we need to see not only peace in northern 
Greece, but 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 great countries, I would 
like to leave my colleagues with a quote from Percy Shelley, and he 
said, ``We are all Greeks. Our laws, our literature, our art have their 
roots in Greece.''
  So I join him and many others in not only paying tribute to Greek 
Independence Day, but also the many contributions of Greek Americans to 
our culture here in America.




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