[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 37 (Tuesday, March 20, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H987]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              CELEBRATING 180 YEARS OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ferguson). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, on March 25, as has been mentioned, Greece 
celebrates its 180th year of independence. I am here tonight to praise 
the society that represents, in a historical sense, the origins of what 
we call Western culture and, in a contemporary sense, one of the 
staunchest defenders of Western society and values. There are many of 
us in Congress, on both sides of the spectrum, who are staunchly 
committed to strengthening and preserving the ties between the Greek 
and American people. I would particularly like to thank the co-chairs 
of our Hellenic Caucus, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and 
the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), for their fine leadership 
and tireless efforts to strengthen the ties between our two countries.
  Just 2 years ago, after the Greek people began the revolution that 
would lead to their freedom, one of our predecessors in this Chamber, 
Congressman Daniel Webster, referring to the 400 years during which the 
Greeks were ruled by the Ottoman Empire, observed, and I quote, ``These 
people,'' the Greeks, ``a people of intelligence, ingenuity, 
refinement, spirit and enterprise, have been for centuries under the 
atrocious and unparalleled Tartarian barbarism that ever oppressed the 
human race.''
  The words Congressman Webster chose then to describe the Greek 
people, intelligence, ingenuity, refinement, spirit and enterprise, are 
as apt today as they ever have been. In the years sense, Americans and 
Greeks have grown ever closer, bound by ties of strategic and military 
alliance, common values of democracy, individual freedom, human rights, 
and close personal friendship.
  In the early 20th century, Greece stood by the United States in World 
War I when Hitler's war machine decimated Europe in the middle of this 
century. Greece again stood on the same side of the United States to 
repulse the greatest threat to freedom and human decency the world as 
ever seen and, I might add, at great cost to the Greek people and the 
Greek nation.

                              {time}  1900

  History has shown that the historic battle of Crete, in which the 
indomitable spirit of the Greek people forced Hitler to delay his 
planned invasion of Russia, was one of the most important battles of 
the Second World War. From the outset of that war, Greece showed its 
true character as a nation of courage and honor, devoted to freedom and 
self-determination.
  World War II's aftermath left Europe mired in the Cold War; and 
Greece, a NATO ally to this day, once again answered the call. Greece 
showed its national valor and sense of historic mission, joining forces 
with the United States and preserving and protecting the freedoms 
enjoyed today by an unprecedented number of the world's people.
  The qualities exhibited by the nation of Greece, Mr. Speaker, are a 
reflection of the strong character and values of its individual 
citizens. The United States has been greatly enriched as many sons and 
daughters of Greece made a new life in America. They and their children 
and grandchildren have enriched our country in countless ways, 
contributing to our cultural, professional, commercial, academic and 
political life.
  The timeless values of Greek culture have endured for centuries, 
indeed for millenia. As Daniel Webster noted, 400 years of control by 
the Ottoman Empire could not overcome the Greek people's determination 
to be free.
  But I regret to say, Mr. Speaker, to this day the Greek people must 
battle against oppression. For almost 24 years now, Greece has stood 
firm in its determination to bring freedom and independence to the 
illegally occupied nation of Cyprus. Like their forefathers who were 
under the control of a hostile foreign power for four centuries, the 
Cypriot people hold fast in defiance of their Turkish aggressors with 
every confidence that they will again be a sovereign nation, and they 
will.
  The United States must be on their side in both the fight to secure 
that freedom and the celebration to mark the day when it finally 
arrives.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to congratulate the Greek people for 
180 years of independence and thank them for their contributions to 
American life.

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