[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 38 (Wednesday, March 21, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E413]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   CELEBRATING GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 20, 2001

  Mr. GILMAN. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of the 
celebration of Greek independence, and I thank our colleagues, the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and the gentlelady from New York 
(Mrs. Maloney), for reminding us of the important role Greece has 
played in the past and plays now.
  It is important that we join together to celebrate the 180th 
anniversary of Greek independence and to pay tribute to a nation which 
is considered the birthplace of democracy. Lest we forget, the world 
owes a great deal to the nation that first developed the concept of 
majority rule, a concept that is at the very heart of our own 
institutions.
  In 1821, Greek patriots rose up against the Ottomans, who for nearly 
400 years had curtailed their basic civil rights. The struggle of the 
Greek patriots won the support of many in Western Europe and in the 
United States. The French, the British, and the Russian governments, 
strongly identifying with the descendants of a nation that had so 
strongly influenced Western civilization, intervened on behalf of the 
Greeks, forcing the Ottoman Empire to recognize Greece as an 
independent state in 1829.
  Our nation has greatly benefited from the contributions of Greek 
immigrants who have substantially contributed their toil, their 
knowledge and their skills to our American society. We have been 
blessed with a strong, vibrant Greek-American community who have 
significantly contributed to our culture, our prosperity, and who have 
deeply embraced the ideals of Democracy.
  Greece has been an island of peace and security in a sea of troubles 
which have embraced the Balkans, and today plays an important role in 
assisting in our efforts to bring peace and security to the entire 
region. With regard to Cyprus, Greece is still in the process of trying 
to reconcile the 27-year occupation of that Island by the Turkish army.
  Thousands of Greeks fought and died for their independence in the 
same fashion that America's founders fought and died. As Greece 
prepares to welcome the world to the Athens Olympics in 2003, let us 
join in celebrating this very special Greek Independence Day, and let 
us hope and pray that we can soon celebrate peace and reunification on 
Cyprus.




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