[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 23, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1139-E1140]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATING THE AMBASSADOR OF GREECE TO THE UNITED STATES, MR. 
                           ALEXANDROS MALLIAS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SHELLEY BERKLEY

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 23, 2007

  Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Ambassador of 
Greece to the United States, Mr. Alexandros Mallias, who was recently 
honored by the B'nai B'rith International Center for Jewish Culture for 
his commitment to advancing Jewish-Greek relations.
  As part of its ``Odyssey of the Jews of Greece'' series of cultural 
events, B'nai B'rith International recognized the efforts of Ambassador 
Mallias in working with American Jewish organizations to promote a 
closer relationship between Greece and Israel. B'nai B'rith Executive 
Vice President Dan Mariaschin expressed the organization's gratitude to 
Ambassador Mallias and highlighted the long history of the Jewish 
people in Greece.
  On a personal note, my own family was part of that history. My great 
grandparents and maternal grandmother emigrated from Greece to the 
United States, and many of those family members they left behind in the 
Jewish community of Thessaloniki perished at the hands of the Nazis 
during the Holocaust.
  I would like to congratulate Ambassador Mallias, and insert his 
remarks into the Record.

      (A) Relations Between Greeks and Jews Through the Centuries

       Greeks and Jews are connected by history, geography, 
     monotheistic religions, philosophy, trade, social sciences, 
     arts.
       The two peoples have been interacting since the beginning 
     of recorded history. There is recorded presence of Jews in 
     the Greek world, what Jews first named Gentiles, centuries 
     before Christ. The presence of Jewish community in 
     Thessaloniki, the capital of Macedonia, goes back to the 2nd 
     century BC.
       The most important sites of Christianity in the Holy Land 
     are under the supervision of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. 
     It is a unique and the most ancient surviving institution on 
     earth.
       Over the years, Greece has forged strong ties with Israel. 
     Bilateral relations are at a very good level. Political, 
     economic and cultural relations have gained their own 
     dynamic.

                             (B) Holocaust

       During the Second World War, Greek Jews shared the fate of 
     their fellow Jews all over the continent in the hands of the 
     Third Reich.
       According to the Central Board of Jewish Communities in 
     Greece: ``When, during the German occupation, the hateful 
     campaign against the Jews started, their Christian 
     compatriots showed compassion and solidarity.''
       Archbishop of Greece Damaskinos declared: ``We are all 
     Jews.'' He filed to the German Authorities 2 petitions asking 
     them to stop the persecution of the Jews. The petitions were 
     undersigned by 29 leading cultural institutions and 
     professional bodies of the country, including the Academy of 
     Athens. Many ordinary Greeks in rural Greece and big cities 
     risked their lives and the lives of their families by 
     sheltering Greek Jews.
       Fortunately, the decimated Greek Jewish community with the 
     assistance of the state and energized by its unique spiritual 
     inheritance survived the massacre of the Holocaust. Today the 
     Greek Jews have reclaimed their rightful position among the 
     most dynamic and progressive segments of the Greek society.
       The message of the Holocaust: Never Again.

          (C) Indicative Measures Adopted by the Greek State.

       First post World War II Greek Government was the first 
     among European countries to pass legislation for the 
     restitution of the property confiscated by the German 
     occupation Forces. Unclaimed property did not revert to 
     the state but was given to the Jewish Community.
       Designation by Law 3218/2004 of the 27th of January as the 
     day of Remembrance of the

[[Page E1140]]

     Holocaust. Legislation was praised by many members of the US 
     Congress.
       Greece became a full member of the Task Force for 
     International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance 
     and Research (Cracow Session 12-18 November 2005).
       Memorials have been erected in many cities throughout 
     Greece.
       Public TV often shows documentaries and historical series 
     on the Holocaust.
       Since school year 2005-2006, the Holocaust is included in 
     the curriculum of the third grade Lyceum (age 17-18 years 
     old) entitled ``War crimes--the Holocaust'' and students are 
     tested at the end of the school year.
       An extensive revision of textbooks is being undertaken by 
     the Pedagogical Institute. A new textbook and teachers' 
     guidelines will be issued next year. Textbooks of primary and 
     secondary education are also being revised.

                        (D) Historic Perspective

       Greece has firmly condemned pronouncements by the Iranian 
     President calling for Israel to be wiped-off the map and 
     denying the indisputable fact of the Holocaust. How would 
     anyone deny this fact when the Greek-Jewish community almost 
     vanished during the German occupation of Greece?
       The unique historic perspective of the Jewish people 
     guarantees that the issue of Macedonia is well understood. 
     After all, one of the most ancient and flourishing Greek-
     Jewish communities is in Thessaloniki. Jews from Macedonia 
     who after WW II emigrated to Israel or the US are proud for 
     their Greek inheritance.
       History transcends national borders. It belongs to all of 
     us. Political differences cannot justify the distortion of 
     history in any form. Greeks and Jews understand that.

                          ____________________