[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 9, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H1195-H1198]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1545
RECOGNIZING THE 189TH ANNIVERSARY OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE
Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1107) recognizing the 189th
anniversary of the independence of Greece and celebrating Greek and
American democracy.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1107
Whereas the ancient Greeks developed the concept of
democracy, in which the supreme power to govern was vested in
the people;
Whereas the Founding Fathers of the United States, many of
whom read Greek political philosophy in its original text,
drew heavily on the political experience and philosophy of
ancient Greece in forming our representative democracy;
Whereas the Greek national anthem (Hymn to Liberty)
includes the words, ``Most heartily was gladdened George
Washington's brave land'';
Whereas Greek Commander in Chief Petros Mavromichalis, a
founder of the modern Greek state, said to the citizens of
the United States in 1821 that ``it is in your land that
liberty has fixed her abode and . . . in imitating you, we
shall imitate our ancestors and be thought worthy of them if
we succeed in resembling you'';
Whereas the people of the United States generously offered
humanitarian assistance to the Greek people during their
struggle for independence;
Whereas Greece played a major role in the World War II
struggle to protect freedom and democracy through such
bravery as was shown in the historic Battle of Crete, which
provided the Axis land war with its first major setback,
setting off a chain of events that significantly affected the
outcome of World War II;
Whereas the price for Greece in holding onto our common
values in their region was high, as hundreds of thousands of
civilians were killed in Greece during World War II;
Whereas, throughout the 20th century, Greece was one of a
few countries that allied with the United States in every
major international conflict;
Whereas Greece is a strategic partner and ally of the
United States in bringing political stability and economic
development to the volatile Balkan region, having invested
over $20,000,000,000 in the countries of the region, thereby
creating over 200,000 new jobs, and having contributed over
$750,000,000 in development aid for the region;
Whereas Greece was extraordinarily responsive to requests
by the United States during the war in Iraq, as Greece
immediately granted unlimited access to its airspace and the
base in Souda Bay, and many ships of the United States that
delivered troops, cargo, and supplies to Iraq were refueled
in Greece;
Whereas Greece is an active participant in peacekeeping and
peace-building operations conducted by international
organizations, including the United Nations, the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the European Union (EU),
and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE);
Whereas its Chairmanship of OSCE in 2009 underlined
Greece's continued commitment to the trans-Atlantic
community;
Whereas in August 2004, the Olympic Games came home to
Athens, Greece, the land of their ancient birthplace 2,500
years ago and the city of their modern revival in 1896;
Whereas Greece received worldwide praise for its
extraordinary handling during the 2004 Olympics of over
14,000 athletes and over 2,000,000 spectators and
journalists, which it did efficiently, securely, and with its
famous Greek hospitality;
Whereas Greece, located in a region where Christianity
meets Islam and Judaism, maintains excellent relations with
Muslim nations and Israel;
Whereas the Government of Greece has had extraordinary
success in recent years in furthering cross-cultural
understanding and has been consistently working for
rapprochement with Turkey, as most recently demonstrated by
Prime Minister George Papandreou's visit to Turkey in October
2009, just days following his election, his first diplomatic
trip abroad;
Whereas Greece and the United States are at the forefront
of the effort for freedom, democracy, peace, stability, and
human rights;
Whereas those and similar ideals have forged a close bond
between Greece and the United States and their peoples;
Whereas March 25, 2010, Greek Independence Day, marks the
189th anniversary of the beginning of the revolution that
freed the Greek people from the Ottoman Empire and celebrates
the aspirations for democracy that the peoples of Greece and
the United States share; and
Whereas it is proper and desirable for the United States to
celebrate this anniversary with the Greek people and to
reaffirm the democratic principles from which these two great
nations were born: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) extends warm congratulations and best wishes to the
people of Greece as they celebrate the 189th anniversary of
the independence of Greece;
(2) expresses support for the principles of democratic
governance to which the people of Greece are committed; and
(3) notes the important role that Greece has played in the
wider European region and in the community of nations since
gaining its independence 189 years ago.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Connolly) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
General Leave
Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend
their remarks and to include extraneous material on the resolution
under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1107.
I would like to begin by thanking my good friend and ranking member
of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Ms. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, for her
leadership in introducing this important resolution which marks the
189th anniversary of Greek independence.
I am pleased to announce that, moments ago, the administration
accepted Greece as a participant in the Visa Waiver Program.
As the birthplace of democracy, Greece stands alone among nations in
its influence over our modern American Government. Our Founders
fashioned our society based in significant part on the political
experience and philosophy of the ancient Greeks.
Today, we stand here in a room surrounded by images of some of the
greatest thinkers of world history, many of them Greek. We stand in a
building inspired by ancient Greek architectural designs. We continue
to legislate today under Greek ideals of democratic governance.
The Greek contribution to world culture is hardly limited to
politics. From the ancient works of Homer, Plato, and Aristophanes, to
the sculpture of Praxiteles, to the ethical sensibility of Hippocrates,
to the mathematical insights of Archimedes and Pythagoras, we are
indebted to the Greek nation for its scientific, philosophical, and
artistic contributions to the development of the finest aspects of
civilization.
The Greek-American bond, inspired by the ancients, remains vibrant
today. Throughout the modern era, Greece has been one of the United
States'
[[Page H1196]]
strongest allies, supporting us in every major international conflict.
Today, our two nations express their mutual commitment to safeguarding
democracy and freedom through a partnership in NATO and through
bilateral defense cooperation.
Situated at the crossroads of three continents, Greece holds a
strategic position in the Mediterranean region. Over the past decade,
Athens has pursued path-breaking diplomacy that has resulted, for
example, in meaningful rapprochement with neighboring Turkey.
In that regard, we especially want to welcome to Washington Prime
Minister George Papandreou, who is visiting us this very week. As
foreign minister in the 1990s and in the first years of this century,
Mr. Papandreou was essentially the architect of that rapprochement with
Turkey. Thanks largely to his vision, the threat of war in the Aegean,
a near constant for many decades, has now diminished. In a remarkable
gesture of friendship and reconciliation, Prime Minister Papandreou,
newly elected last fall, made Turkey the site of his very first Prime
Ministerial trip abroad.
As we commemorate today the 189th anniversary of Greek independence,
we would be remiss if we failed to acknowledge the rich contributions
of Greek immigrants and their descendants to the United States. Their
accomplishments are a testament to the greatness of their land of
origin.
Madam Speaker, I extend anniversary congratulations to Greece, an
ancient country of noble traditions. I join with all Americans and
democracy lovers throughout the world in celebrating Greek heritage and
our thriving Greek-American friendship. I urge my colleagues to support
this resolution.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, the greatest aspect of Greek influence on our country
has its roots in the classical era of ancient Greece--that point in
time when the Greek political philosophy of democracy was born. In our
political debates today, we can easily see the continuing influence of
that classical age in our lives.
How different would the world be today if the Greeks of that day had
not stood up to the invading armies of the Persian Empire?
Unfortunately, although the ancient Greek political philosophers first
conceived of democratic self-government, after their time passed, the
Greek nation, itself, in fact, became a part of larger empires.
It was ruled for centuries by men with unquestioned and arbitrary
power over life and death--the antithesis of democracy. By the start of
the 1800s, however, the signs were clear. The Greek people saw the
opportunity and were determined to win back their independence and to
live in liberty once again.
The most eloquent advocate for liberty in the nation of Greece in the
early 19th century was a freedom fighter and a poet, who, before
perishing in the struggle, penned the immortal line, ``Better 1 hour of
free life than 40 years of slavery and prison.'' After the Greek
Revolution was declared on March 25, 1821, this poem became a patriotic
call for liberty and the motto for the freedom fighters of Greece.
Our Founding Fathers shared that same passion for liberty, as
evidenced by Patrick Henry's famous statement just a few decades
earlier, ``Give me liberty or give me death''--a brave statement which
is so familiar and so similar to the rallying cry of the Greek people
during their historic struggle.
Such are the shared ideals, the common values upon which the
friendship between Greece and America was founded, and that friendship
has, indeed, become a formal alliance.
During the 20th century, in every major international conflict, Greek
soldiers stood beside American soldiers in the fight for freedom and
liberty.
To this day, Greece supports our reconstruction and stabilization
missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Greece has deployed an operational
mentor and liaison team to assist NATO efforts to train the Afghan
army. Further, the Souda Bay naval base on Crete has been a valuable
support for the coalition forces in Iraq. During the brutal fighting in
2005 alone, this Greek base supported over 11,000 U.S. military ships
and planes on their way to Iraq.
Greece has also contributed significant financial and diplomatic
support to continuing stabilization efforts in the Balkan region, and
it has effectively promoted such efforts in that region during the 2009
chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in
Europe.
I was honored to have met with the Greek Prime Minister earlier today
to discuss these issues and to discuss ways to continue strengthening
our bilateral relationship.
Greece continues today as a valued partner and as a strong friend of
the United States. It is my pleasure to offer this resolution which
recognizes the 189th anniversary of the independence of that great
nation.
With that, Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my
friend, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes).
Mr. SARBANES. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Madam Speaker, today, I rise to honor the 189th anniversary of Greek
Independence Day. We are also celebrating today Greece's entry into the
U.S. Visa Waiver Program, which is a strong affirmation of the close
ties between our two nations.
The American people and the people of Greece have been united by
common values from the very beginning. Democracy, liberty, freedom, and
the idea that the individual should have a say in the workings of
society are the values we share and are the foundations upon which both
of our great nations have been built and have prospered.
It is no coincidence, therefore, that Greece and the United States
have stood by each other's side in every major struggle. After all, our
two great nations are the historical pillars of democracy: Greece as
creator and America as promoter.
By passing this resolution today, we commemorate the struggle of the
Greek people to secure their freedom and to establish the modern
Hellenic Republic.
Today, as we know, Greece is facing particularly difficult
challenges. Yesterday, as part of his 4-day visit to the United States,
the Prime Minister of Greece, George Papandreou, delivered an address
at the Brookings Institution in which he described those challenges and
emphasized the important role the United States can play in ensuring
that global speculators do not take further advantage of what remains a
very fluid situation.
America and Greece must stand together to ensure that the global
economic system is restored, to support European democracy, and to
foster peace and prosperity around the globe. We are strong allies and
are up to the task. In that spirit, our country today congratulates
Greece on the celebration of its independence, and we look forward to
strengthening our mutual ties in the days to come.
Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to my
friend, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney).
Mrs. MALONEY. Thank you, my dear friend, for your leadership and for
yielding to me.
Madam Speaker, as an original cosponsor of H.R. 1107 and as co-chair
and cofounder of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, I rise
today to celebrate the entrance of Greece into the Visa Waiver Program
and to celebrate the 189th anniversary of Greece's declaration of
independence from the Ottoman Empire.
Against incredibly difficult odds, the Greeks defeated one of the
most powerful empires in history to win their independence. Following
400 years of Ottoman rule, in March 1821, Bishop Germanos of Patras
raised the traditional Greek flag at the monastery of Agia Lavra,
inciting his countrymen to rise against the Ottoman army.
The bishop timed this act of revolution to coincide with the Greek
Orthodox holiday celebrating the archangel Gabriel's announcement that
the Virgin Mary was pregnant with the divine child. Bishop Germanos'
message was clear: A new spirit was about to be born in Greece.
The following year, the Treaty of Constantinople established full
independence for Greece.
New York City is home to the largest Hellenic population outside of
Greece
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and Cyprus. Western Queens, which I have the honor of representing, is
often called ``Little Athens'' because of the large Hellenic population
in that neighborhood. New Yorkers celebrate Greek Independence Day with
a parade on Fifth Avenue, along with many cultural events and private
gatherings. These events, hosted by the Federation of Hellenic
Societies and other Hellenic and Philhellenic organizations and
friends, remind us of the Hellenic American community's many
contributions to our Nation's history and culture.
I am also pleased that President Obama is continuing the tradition of
holding a White House celebration in honor of Greek Independence Day.
Relations between the United States and Greece remain strong with a
shared commitment to ensuring stability in southeastern Europe.
I hope permanent solutions can be found for ending the division of
Cyprus and for finding a mutually agreeable name for the former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Additionally, I have reintroduced
legislation which urges Turkey to respect the rights and religious
freedoms of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. It is time for this
suppression of religious freedom to come to an end and for Turkey to
move in the direction of freedom and democracy.
I, along with my colleagues, have worked to ensure that the process
for Greece's entry into the Visa Waiver Program has continued to move
forward. I have had legislation before this body for well over 6 years.
In September of 2007, Greece was formally nominated for the Visa
Waiver Program by the U.S. State Department and was the only member of
the original 15 European Union nations not to belong to the Visa Waiver
Program. In light of this, I was very, very pleased to learn that, just
today, Secretary Napolitano announced the inclusion of Greece into the
program. This is a most welcomed and long overdue development for
Greece, the birthplace of democracy and one of our Nation's closest
allies.
I ask the Nation to join me in celebrating the Greeks' independence.
I also join my colleagues in welcoming Prime Minister Papandreou, who
is visiting this country for 4 days. It is also my sincere pleasure to
pay tribute to New York's Hellenic American community and to its many
contributions to our city and Nation.
Zeto E Eleftheria. Long live freedom.
Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my
colleagues for their thoughtful comments on this important matter. I
want to thank the ranking member, my friend from Florida (Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen), for her leadership on this matter.
Before I yield back the balance of my time, I also want to thank both
the majority and minority staffs of the committee for their fine work,
and I want to thank my own staff member, Hera Abbasi, for her fine
work, especially on our albinism resolution.
Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, today, I congratulate Greece on her 189th
anniversary of independence.
Greece has long been a close ally to the United States and rightly
so, given that our founding fathers formulated the American political
philosophy from the Greek ideals that were first conceptualized in 500
BC.
Today, Greece is a partner in Afghanistan and continues to build
bridges between cultures throughout Europe and the greater region.
Greece promotes peaceful dialogue and understanding through its own
negotiations, particularly in regards to its divided neighbor, Cyprus.
Ending the occupation of Cyprus has long been a focus of my political
career. Greece and Cyprus's steadfast commitment to finding peaceful
people to people solutions to ending the occupation have touched and
motivated my own work on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. In fact,
Secretary Clinton described Cyprus as a strategic focal point in
response to my questions on integrating the Island.
Today, thousands of Turkish and Greek Cypriots pass through various
passageways between the occupied North and the Republic of Cyprus.
There has not been one incidence of violence and many Turkish Cypriots
escape the congestion of the occupation and enjoy education and health
benefits in the Republic that they do not have in the North.
After over 35 years, it is time to bring peace to this island through
a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation driven solely by the joint efforts
of all Cypriots and Cypriots, only.
On a similar note, Greece has for years pursued the deserved rights
of the leader of the Orthodox Christians, the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
I will continue to advocate for the Patriarchate's recognition. I
believe that this recognition would not only benefit the Patriarchate's
legacy, but Turkey's multi-cultural history, as well.
Finally, I will work to make sure that a mutual agreeable name for
the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, FYROM, is reached. After
all, Macedonia is Greek!
Through its great history. Greece has always approached its own
matters with grace. I am particularly proud of the Greek-Americans who,
through, their advocacy and hard work, today heard the great news that
Greece has finally been granted visa waiver status.
I cannot tell you how happy I am that families will finally be
comfortably reuniting after years of a discriminatory status.
I thank President Obama and Secretary Napolitano for their decision
and once again congratulate Greece on all that it has achieved and of
course, all that it will achieve.
Mr. SPACE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1107, a
bill recognizing the 189th anniversary of the independence of Greece
and celebrating Greek and American democracy.
I am proud to support a bill whose significance is so extensive and
which has such great personal meaning to me and my family members.
I am extremely proud to call myself a Greek-American. My paternal
grandfather emigrated from the island of Ikaria, Greece in the early
20th century and earned his American citizenship by fighting in World
War I for the U.S. yet, he never let go of his roots. My father served
in the Marines during the Korean War and instilled in me a deep sense
of patriotism and respect for our great country. My family, like so
many other Greek-American families, has never forgotten that strong
bond that exists between Greece and the United States.
Our Founding Fathers looked to ancient Greece and her political
wisdom. They drew on the enlightenment of the ancient texts to build a
new representative democracy, deeply rooted in the philosophy and ethos
of Greek government. Greece and the U.S. have always been at the
forefront of the effort for freedom, democracy, peace, stability and
human rights, and those similarities are what have forged our enduring
bond over the centuries.
The solidarity between our two great countries has served us both
throughout the years. The Greek people fought alongside American
soldiers in the historic battles of World War II and have lent aid to
our troops fighting in Iraq and in battlefields around the world.
Whether in war, or in peace, the U.S. and Greece have been able to
stand strong, firmly anchored by the democratic principles from which
both of these two great nations were born.
Today, as we celebrate the anniversary of this wonderful nation's
independence, it is important that we continue to recognize the
significance of Greek contributions to the global society. As an
American, and as a Greek, I support H. Res. 1107 and ask my colleagues
to do the same.
Ms. TSONGAS. Madam Speaker, as an original cosponsor of this
resolution, and a member of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic
Issues, I rise today in order to voice my heartfelt congratulations to
the people of Greece on the 189th anniversary of their independence.
Massachusetts' Fifth Congressional District has deep roots in the
rich Greek-American community, as does my family--my husband Paul's
family emigrated from Greece to Lowell, Massachusetts when his father
was 3 years old.
Our Nation has benefited tremendously from the contributions of the
prominent Greek community that resides, works, and sustains a vibrant
Greek heritage here in the United States.
The bond between the United States and the nation of Greece has
always been an exceptional alliance, anchored in our common values,
traditions, and passion for freedom and democracy.
President Obama has appropriately continued the tradition of holding
a White House celebration in honor of Greek Independence Day, and I
look forward to joining him this year to celebrate this historic
occasion.
This measure expresses the House of Representatives' support for the
important partnership and strong relations between Greece and the
United States over the past 189 years. To this day, Greece remains one
of our greatest allies.
I am proud to join the Greek-Americans of Massachusetts' Fifth
District, and across our country, in celebrating the 189th anniversary
of their independence day.
I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of
my time.
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The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1107.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
____________________