[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 37 (Tuesday, March 20, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H994-H995]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because Sunday marks the 180th 
anniversary of the revolution that earned the independence of the Greek 
people from the Ottoman Empire. Nearly 400

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years ago, after the fall of Constantinople, Bishop Germanos of Patras 
raised the Greek flag at Agia Lavras, sparking a powerful revolution 
against the Ottoman oppressors.
  Citing the values and priorities that led to the establishment of our 
own country here in the United States, the Greek commander chief, 
Petros Mavromichalis, once proclaimed that ``in imitating you, we shall 
imitate our ancestors and be thought worthy of them if we succeed in 
resembling you . . . it is for you, citizens of America, to crown this 
glory.''
  Following the triumphs of 1821, Greece continued to prove itself as a 
loyal ally of the United States and an internationally recognized 
advocate of democracy. Greece is one of only three nations in the world 
beyond those of the former British Empire to be allied with the United 
States in every major international conflict of the 20th century.
  From the trenches of World War I to the barren fields of Desert 
Storm, Greece remains faithful to the implementation and sustainment of 
democracy. Most recently in the Balkans, Greece has played a steady 
hand of democracy in the face of regional unrest and instability.
  Mr. Speaker, we depend on Greece more than ever today. As conflict 
spreads in the neighboring former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 
Greece's role as a stable democracy and key NATO ally becomes more 
important. All eyes now turn to young leaders in the Mediterranean like 
Greece's Foreign Minister Papandreou to advise us on the path of peace.
  A path to peace. Would that we could have one in Cyprus, divided by a 
cold war barrier that is as ugly as it is outdated.
  We look with hope at the new Bush administration and their role in 
bringing together the leaders from Ankara, Nicosia, Athens to find 
peace.
  Greece is a special jewel of beauty in the Mediterranean from the 
ecology of Patmos to the vibrant Rembetiko of the Plaka.
  I want to wish a hearty congratulations to the Greek people and pay 
special regards to one of the leading Greek-Americans of northern 
Illinois, State Senator Adeline Geo-Karis of Zion, who is one of our 
true leaders. I am sure she will correct all of my pronunciation in the 
Greek language.
  We wish the Greek people well. To Greece, we say to a free and 
democratic ally: Cronia polla hellas.

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