[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 6]
[House]
[Pages 7415-7419]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) is recognized for 5 minutes.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on the subject of this Special Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, today I proudly rise to celebrate Greek 
Independence Day and the strong ties that bind the nation of Greece and 
the United States. 182 years ago exactly on this date, the people of 
Greece began a journey that would mark the symbolic rebirth of 
democracy in the land where those principles for human dignity were 
first espoused. They rebelled against more than 400 years, 400 years of 
Turkish oppression. The revolution of 1821 brought independence to 
Greece and emboldened those who still sought freedom across the world.
  I commemorate Greek Independence Day each year for the same reasons 
that we celebrate our Fourth of July. It proved that a united people 
through sheer will and perseverance can prevail against tyranny.
  Men such as Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, and Euripides developed the 
then unique notion that men could, if left to their own devices, lead 
themselves rather than be subject to the will of a sovereign. It was 
Aristotle who said: ``We make war that we may live in peace,'' a timely 
statement considering today's events. On March 25, 1821, Archbishop 
Germanos of Patras embodied the spirit of those words when he raised 
the flag of freedom and was the first to declare Greece free.
  Revolutions embody a sense of heroism, Mr. Speaker, bringing forth a 
greatness of the human spirit. As Thomas Jefferson once said: ``To the 
ancient Greeks we are all indebted for the light which led ourselves, 
American colonists, out of Gothic darkness.''
  Quoting Jefferson on the anniversary of Greek independence is 
particularly appropriate. Jefferson and the rest of the Founding 
Fathers looked back to the teachings of ancient Greek philosophers for 
inspiration as they sought to craft a strong democratic state. In 1821, 
the Greeks looked to our Founding Fathers for inspiration when they 
began their journey toward freedom.
  We all know that the price of liberty can be very high. History is 
replete with the names of the millions that have sacrificed for it. 
Many great scholars throughout history warn that we maintain democracy 
only at great cost. The freedom we enjoy today is due, to a large 
degree, to the sacrifices made by men and women in the past in Greece, 
in America and all over the world.
  Freedom is America's heart. It is central to our being, and from the 
beginning we have recognized that freedom is not just an American 
right. It is a God-given right to every citizen of the world.

[[Page 7416]]

  Even as we commemorate Greek Independence Day, American ser-
vicemembers are fighting to liberate the Iraqi people who have suffered 
for decades under Saddam Hussein's brutal regime. We must never forget 
that freedom must be constantly guarded. It is a noble, but fragile, 
thing that can be stolen or snuffed out if not protected.
  We cannot take for granted that we are endowed by our Creator with 
certain unalienable rights. We enjoy our freedom only because we have 
been willing to fight and die for it, just like our forefathers and the 
valiant Greeks in 1821.
  Mr. Speaker, on this 182nd birthday of Greek independence, when we 
celebrate the restoration of democracy to the land of its conception, 
we also celebrate the triumph of the human spirit and the strength of 
man's will. The goals and values that the people of Greece share with 
the people of the United States reaffirm our common democratic 
heritage.
  This occasion also serves to remind us that we must never take for 
granted the right to determine our own fate.
  Mr. Speaker, today I proudly rise to celebrate Greek Independence Day 
and the strong ties that bind the nation of Greece and the United 
States.
  One hundred and eighty two years ago, the people of Greece began a 
journey that would mark the symbolic rebirth of democracy in the land 
where those principles to human dignity were first espoused.
  They rebelled against more than 400 years of Turkish oppression. The 
revolution of 1821 brought independence to Greece and emboldened those 
who still sought freedom across the world. I commemorate Greek 
Independence Day each year for the same reasons we celebrate our Fourth 
of July. It proved that a united people, through sheer will and 
perseverance, can prevail against tyranny. The lessons the Greeks and 
our colonial forefathers taught us provide hope and inspiration to 
victims of persecution throughout the world today.
  Men such as Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, and Euripides developed the 
then-unique notion that men could, if left to their own devices, lead 
themselves rather than be subject to the will of a sovereign. It was 
Aristotle who said: ``We make war that we may live in peace.'' On March 
25, 1821, Archbishop Germanos of Patras embodied the spirit of those 
words when he raised the flag of freedom and was the first to declare 
Greece free.
  Revolutions embody a sense of heroism, bringing forth the greatness 
of the human spirit. It was Thomas Jefferson who said that, ``One man 
with courage is a majority.'' Quoting Jefferson on the anniversary of 
Greek independence is particularly appropriate. Jefferson, and the rest 
of the Founding Fathers, looked back to the teachings of ancient Greek 
philosophers for inspiration as they sought to craft a strong 
democratic state. And in 1821, the Greeks looked to our Founding 
Fathers for inspiration when they began their journey toward freedom.
  The history of Greek independence, like that of the American 
Revolution, is filled with many stories of courage and heroism. There 
are many parallels between the American and Greek Revolutions.
  Encouraged by the American Revolution, the Greeks began their 
rebellion after four centuries of Turkish oppression, facing what 
appeared to be insurmountable odds. Both nations faced the prospect of 
having to defeat an empire to obtain liberty. And if Samuel Adams, the 
American revolutionary leader who lighted the first spark of rebellion 
by leading the Boston Tea Party, had a Greek counterpart, that man 
would be Alexander Ypsilantis.
  Ypsilantis was born in Istanbul, and his family was later exiled to 
Russia. Ypsilantis served in the Russian army, and it was there, during 
his military service, that he became involved with a secret society 
called the ``Philike Hetairia,'' which translated means ``friendly 
society.'' The ``friendly society'' was made up of merchants and other 
Greek leaders, but the intent of the society was to seek freedom for 
Greece and her people.
  The group planned a secret uprising for 1821 to be led by Ypsilantis. 
He and 4,500 volunteers assembled near the Russian border to launch an 
insurrection against the Turks. The Turkish army massacred the ill-
prepared Greek volunteers, and Ypsilantis was caught and placed in 
prison, where he subsequently died. However, the first bells of liberty 
had been rung, and Greek independence would not be stopped.
  When news of Greek uprisings spread, the Turks killed Greek 
clergymen, clerics, and laity in a frightening display of force. In a 
vicious act of vengeance, the Turks invaded the island of Chios and 
slaughtered 25,000 of the local residents. The invaders enslaved half 
the island's population of 100,000.
  Although many lives were sacrificed at the altar of freedom, the 
Greek people rallied around the battle cry ``Eleftheria I Thanatos''--
liberty or death, mirroring the words of American Patriot Patrick Henry 
who said: ``Give me liberty or give me death.'' These words personified 
the Greek patriots' unmitigated desire to be free.
  Another heroic Greek whom many believe was the most important figure 
in the revolution was Theodoros Kolokotronis. He was the leader of the 
Klephts, a group of rebellious and resilient Greeks who refused to 
submit to Turkish subjugation. Kolokotronis used military strategy he 
learned while in the service of the English Army to organize a force of 
over 7,000 men. The Klephts swooped down on the Turks from their 
mountain strongholds, battering their oppressors into submission.
  One battle in particular, where Kolokotronis led his vastly 
outnumbered forces against the Turks, stands out. The Turks had invaded 
Peloponnese with 30,000 men. Kolokotronis led his force, which was 
outnumbered by a ratio of 4 to 1, against the Turkish army. A fierce 
battle ensued and many lives were lost, but after a few weeks, the 
Turks were forced to retreat. Kolokotronis is a revered Greek leader, 
because he embodied the hopes and dreams of the common man, while 
displaying extraordinary courage and moral fiber in the face of 
overwhelming odds.
  Athanasios Diakos was another legendary hero, a priest, a patriot, a 
soldier. He led 500 of his men in a noble stand against 8,000 Ottoman 
soldiers. Diakos' men were wiped out and he fell into the enemy's 
hands, where he was severely tortured before his death. He is the image 
of a Greek who gave all for love of faith and homeland.
  While individuals acts of bravery and leadership are often noted, the 
Greek Revolution was remarkable for the bravery and fortitude displayed 
by the typical Greek citizen. This heroic ideal of sacrifice and 
service is best demonstrated through the story of the Suliotes, 
villagers who took refuge from Turkish authorities in the mountains of 
Epiros. The fiercely patriotic Suliotes bravely fought the Turks in 
several battles. News of their victories spread throughout the region 
and encouraged other villagers to revolt. The Turkish Army acted 
swiftly and with overwhelming force to quell the Suliote uprising.
  The Suliote women were alone as their husbands battled the Turks at 
the front. When they learned that Turkish troops were fast approaching 
their village, they began to dance the ``Syrtos,'' a patriotic Greek 
dance. One by one, rather than face torture or enslavement at the hands 
of the Turks, they committed suicide by throwing themselves and their 
children off Mount Zalongo. They chose to die rather than surrender 
their freedom.
  The sacrifice of the Suliotes was repeated in the Arkadi Monastery of 
Crete. Hundreds of non-combatants, mainly the families of the Cretan 
freedom fighters, had taken refuge in the Monastery to escape Turkish 
reprisals. The Turkish army was informed that the Monastery was used by 
the Cretan freedom fighters as an arsenal for their war material, and 
they set out to seize it. As the Turkish troops were closing in, the 
priest gathered all the refugees in the cellar around him. With their 
consent, he set fire to the gunpowder kegs stored there, killing all 
but a few. The ruins of the Arkadi Monastery, like the ruins of our 
Alamo, still stand as a monument to liberty.
  News of the Greek revolution met with widespread feelings of 
compassion in the United States. The Founding Fathers eagerly expressed 
sentiments of support for the fledgling uprising. Several American 
Presidents, including James Monroe and John Quincy Adams, conveyed 
their support for the revolution through their annual messages to 
Congress. William Harrison, our ninth President, expressed his belief 
in freedom for Greece, saying: ``We must send our free will offering. 
`The Star-Spangled Banner' must wave in the Aegean . . . a messenger of 
fraternity and friendship to Greece.''
  Various Members of Congress also showed a keen interest in the 
Greeks' struggle for autonomy. Henry Clay, who in 1825 became Secretary 
of State, was a champion of Greece's fight for independence. Among the 
most vocal was Daniel Webster from Massachusetts, who frequently roused 
the sympathetic interest of his colleagues and other Americans in the 
Greek revolution.
  It should not surprise us that our Founding Fathers would express 
such keen support for Greek independence, for they themselves had been 
inspired by the ancient Greeks in their own struggle for freedom. As 
Thomas Jefferson once said, ``To the ancient Greeks . . . we are all 
indebted for the light which led ourselves . . . American colonists, 
out of gothic

[[Page 7417]]

darkness.'' Our two nations share a brotherhood bonded by the common 
blood of democracy, birthed by Lady Liberty, and committed to the ideal 
that each individual deserves the right of self-determination.
  We all know that the price of liberty can be very high--history is 
replete with the names of the millions who have sacrificed for it. Many 
great scholars throughout history warned that we maintain democracy 
only at great cost. The freedom we enjoy today is due to a large degree 
to the sacrifices made by men and women in the past--in Greece, in 
America, and all over the world.
  I recount these stories because they pay homage to Greece's absolute 
commitment to freedom and liberty and the common bonds which we share. 
Unfortunately, our devotion to the principle of freedom is not shared 
by many people whose interests are better served by applying oppression 
to their own people and spreading terror elsewhere. The cowardly attack 
of September 11, 2001, against our great Nation backfired because these 
horrific acts united our country as Americans rushed to the aid of 
their fellow countrymen. The terrorist attacks brought out the best in 
America and showed the world that ordinary people like you and me will 
do extraordinary things when called upon.
  Freedom is America's heart. It is central to our being, and from the 
beginning we have recognized that freedom is not just an American 
right. It is a God-given right to every citizen of the world. Even as 
we commemorate Greek Independence Day, American servicemembers are 
fighting to liberate the Iraqi people who have suffered for decades 
under Saddam Hussein's brutal regime.
  We must not overlook those who are still fighting for their 
independence in other parts of the world, such as in the Republic of 
Cyprus. Turkey still illegally occupies Cyprus, as it has since its 
invasion in 1974. Finding a fair resolution for Cyprus will help 
stabilize a region marked more often by conflict than accord.
  As with so many international issues, U.S. leadership is essential to 
urge Turkish and Turkish Cypriot leaders toward peace.
  It is unfortunate that the Turkish Cypriot leadership has recently 
rejected the plan proposed by the U.N. Secretary General, aimed at 
reuniting the island under a government of shared power and having the 
united island admitted to the European Union. This is a vision worthy 
of our attention and full support because it will end the illegitimate 
division of Cyprus, improve the relations between Turkey and Greece and 
promote stability in the sensitive region of Eastern Mediterranean.
  We must never forget that freedom must be constantly guarded. It is a 
noble but fragile thing that can be stolen or snuffed out if not 
protected. We cannot take for granted that we are endowed by our 
Creator with certain inalienable rights. We enjoy our freedom only 
because we have been willing to fight and die for it, just like our 
forefathers and the valiant Greeks in 1821.
  Mr. Speaker, on this 182nd birthday of Greek Independence, when we 
celebrate the restoration of democracy to the land of its conception, 
we also celebrate the triumph of the human spirit and the strength of 
man's will. The goals and values that the people of Greece share with 
the people of the United States reaffirms our common democratic 
heritage. This occasion also serves to remind us that we must never 
take for granted the right to determine our own fate.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, today Greece celebrates its 182nd year of 
independence. I am here tonight to praise a 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 preserving and 
strengthening the ties between Greek and American people.
  In the years since its Greek independence, 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.
  The timeless values of Greek culture have endured for centuries, 
indeed for millennia. Four hundred 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 28 years now, Greece has stood 
firm in its determination to bring freedom and independence to the 
illegally occupied nation of Cyprus.
  Given instability around the world and a war in Iraq, now is a good 
time to heal the wound in Cyprus that has poisoned the relations 
between Greece and Turkey for so many years.
  Mr. Speaker, that is why I was so disappointed earlier this month 
when I learned of the breakdown in the United Nations-sponsored Cyprus 
peace talks in The Hague. All of the facts lead to the inescapable 
conclusion that the cause of the breakdown is the intransigence of the 
Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, and his supporters in Ankara.
  Mr. Speaker, yesterday 16 of my House colleagues joined me in sending 
a letter to President Bush urging that all official statements from the 
U.S. Government regarding the Cyprus issue place the blame for this 
negative outcome squarely where it belongs, with Mr. Denktash and 
Ankara. We also requested that the Bush administration redouble its 
efforts to persuade Turkey and Turkish-Cypriot leaders to work 
constructively within the U.N. process and framework to achieve a 
negotiated settlement to end the division of Cyprus.
  Due to the attitude of Mr. Denktash and Turkey, further progress on 
the U.N. plan now appears derailed. The office of the Secretary 
General's Special Advisor on Cyprus will be brought to a close in the 
coming weeks. The Secretary General has said that his plan is still on 
the table. It is apparent that continued division serves Mr. Denktash's 
narrow political interests--even if his position is completely contrary 
to the interests of the large majority of the Turkish Cypriots, who 
have made their views known in support of the U.N. process in massive 
demonstrations.
  In contrast, Mr. Speaker, Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos has 
pledged to continue efforts for a Cyprus settlement that would properly 
serve the interests of both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot 
communities.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my expectation, and the expectation of 16 of my 
colleagues who joined me in sending the letter to President Bush, that 
the Bush administration will use all available political and diplomatic 
means to persuade Turkey to work constructively to resolve the Cyprus 
question. At a time when Turkey is interested in joining the EU, its 
lack of cooperation in the efforts to solve the Cyprus problem can only 
result in a setback for Turkey's EU candidacy. Ultimately, the victims 
of these shortsighted policies from Ankara and the Turkish Cypriot 
leadership are the people of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot community, 
who will continue to be deprived of an opportunity to share in the 
economic, social and other benefits of EU membership. Moreover, the 
Turkish rejection is a setback to peace and stability in the Eastern 
Mediterranean, a U.S. strategic objective and long-standing policy for 
the region.
  Mr. Speaker, I will continue to work with my colleagues here in 
Congress to ensure that the United States government remains on the 
right side of this issue--because there is no gray area when it comes 
to this conflict.
  In closing I want to congratulate the Greek people for 182 years of 
independence and thank them for their contributions to American life.
  Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 182nd 
anniversary of Greece's modern independence, and I can think of no more 
fitting time to celebrate the birth place of democracy than now, when 
our brave men and women are overseas fighting for the very principles 
that the Ancient Greeks first embraced. I am proud and honored to pay 
tribute tonight to the more than 3 million Greek-Americans in the 
United States, almost 10,000 of whom reside in my congressional 
district.
  From the books that are still taught in schools, such as Homer's 
Iliad and Odyssey, to the homecoming of the Olympics in Athens, Greek 
culture continues to influence American life today. Greek-Americans 
contribute to every aspect of American culture as teachers, scientists, 
engineers, writers, actors, and every other occupation in the United 
States. Greek-Americans continue to teach us about the ideals that 
their great grandparents first taught the world: loyalty, pride, rugged 
individualism and governing for the people by the people.
  Greece was the world's first democracy, and now more than ever it is 
important to celebrate democracy at a time when Coalition forces fight 
to preserve it. The citizens of Iraq will soon reap the benefits of 
living in a democratic land, and their children will be able to grow up 
in a society free from tyranny. This is what we celebrate tonight on 
the anniversary of Greek Independence Day: the idea of living free in a 
society where citizens freely elect their representatives to govern 
them, without coercion or intimidation.
  Athens was the first city to say that one person does not have the 
right to rule by whim without the consent of the people. Saddam Hussein 
is a dictator. His totalitarian regime undermines human dignity. It 
works against, not for, the people of Iraq. Greece was the first 
civilization to realize this truth, and it is for this reason that 
tonight we celebrate its Independence Day.

[[Page 7418]]

  We must also never forget the exceptional relations that Greece and 
America enjoy. As Greece continues to be a country of stability in an 
otherwise turbulent Balkans region, let us always remember that Greece, 
one of America's greatest allies, has fought with the United States in 
every major war from World War I to the Persian Gulf, and that it 
remains committed to promoting the democratic ideals that we celebrate 
tonight.
  Mr. TIERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of the 182nd anniversary of 
Greek independence. As a member of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic 
Issues, I once again join my colleagues in paying tribute to the Greek 
nation and its people.
  Today in the Congress of the United States we commemorate not only 
the independence achieved by the Greeks in 1821, but the freedom, civil 
liberties and self-determination sought by people everywhere.
  Today is also a day to mark the longstanding special relationship 
between our two countries. We Americans owe a special debt of gratitude 
to the country upon which our democratic process is founded. Greece was 
the cradle of democracy, birthplace of ideals and values that shaped 
human history. Whenever we promote participatory democracy, public 
service, and equal rights, we pay testament to our shared heritage.
  In the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, modern day Greece was 
one of the first nations to offer its support to America in the 
struggle against terrorism so that we could create a safer world where 
future generations grow up in a free and open society. And during these 
days of war, cherished democratic principles are more vital than ever.
  In my district in Massachusetts, thousands of Greek American families 
will participate in political, religious and cultural festivities, 
expressing pride in their Greek heritage and patriotism in their 
American citizenship. I extend congratulations to them, to all the 
people of Greek heritage in the United States, and to the people of 
Greece on this important holiday.
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the Greek people and 
their successful struggle for independence from Ottoman occupation that 
began nearly 182 years ago. Greek Independence Day has special symbolic 
resonance for Americans. Our forefathers founded our democratic system 
of government on the principles of popular representation introduced to 
this world by the ancient Athenians.
  Our word democracy is, in fact, of Greek derivation and literally 
translates as people (``demo'') rule (``kratos''). The ancient Greek 
experiment with democracy, however, was a visionary aberration that was 
centuries ahead of its time. Democracy did not last long in Ancient 
Greece as the fist of empires--Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman--silenced 
democratic yearnings for nearly two millennia.
  Although democracy temporarily disappeared, the Greeks continued to 
thrive and prosper. As the Roman Empire expanded in the early centuries 
after the birth of Christ, the Greek peoples dominated the eastern half 
of the Roman Empire, known as Byzantium, and it was the Greek city of 
Constantinople where the Roman emperor Constantine converted himself 
and the entire Roman Empire to Christianity.
  After the fall of Rome in 476 AD, the Greek-led Byzantine Empire 
emerged as a potent force in the world and protectorate of Christian 
Orthodoxy. The Greeks remained strong and independent until the Central 
Asian Ottomans crushed the Byzantine armies and conquered the spiritual 
capital of the Byzantine world at Constantinople in 1453.
  The victory of the Ottomans cast the Greek speaking peoples into more 
than four hundred years of occupation. But even while under the yoke of 
Ottoman rule, the Greeks were an impressive force. As successful and 
educated merchants, many thrived in the Ottoman middle class and 
bolstered the Ottoman economy.
  Still, the Greeks were not meant to be subject peoples and they began 
to oppose the imperial policies of the Ottoman government. Greeks, many 
of whom were educated in the universities of the West, began to adopt 
revolutionary ideas from France, Great Britain, and the United States. 
The concepts of the nation-state, self-determination, and liberal 
democracy found their ways into the Greek villages and cities from 
Athens to Constantinople.
  On March 25, 1821, Greek patriots from the southern tip of the 
Peloponnese to the northern outskirts of Macedonia finally rebuked the 
yoke of the Ottomans and declared the independence of the Greek people 
from subjugation. At first, the Hellenic fighters met with violent 
failure, but their just cause ignited the imaginations of their people 
and of scores of Western philhellenes, such as the English poet Lord 
Byron, who left their homelands to fight and die with the Greeks for 
their liberation.
  The United States was never far from the minds of the revolutionary 
Greeks, nor was the struggle of the Greeks unnoticed by Americans. As 
Greek revolutionary commander Petros Mavromichalis, one of the founders 
of the modern Greek state, said to the citizens of the United States in 
1821, ``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.''
  By 1833, the Greeks had secured independence and with it a place in 
history as the first of the subjugated peoples in Europe to overthrow 
their Ottoman masters.
  As the Greek nation developed and grew, it emerged as a stalwart ally 
of the United States. The Greek people fought alongside the American 
and Allied forces in both of the world wars of the twentieth century. 
The Greeks again took up arms against their Ottoman foes in the First 
World War and then handed the Axis powers their first defeat in World 
War II when the Greek army pushed back the forces of Mussolini. Soon 
after, however, they would suffer through a long and painful Nazi 
occupation.
  After World War II, Greece became an instrumental member of the NATO 
alliance. Greece's strategic location made it a vital buffer between 
the Western Democratic world and Soviet Communism.
  Over the last thirty years, Greece has made major strides forward for 
its people. In 1974, Konstantine Karamanlis finally restored democracy 
to Greece, bringing representative government back to its birthplace. 
Greece became a member of the European Community and the powerful 
European Union.
  Today, Greece continues to move in the right direction thanks to the 
enlightened leadership of Prime Minister Costas Simitas. Greece 
currently has the honor of holding the European Union's rotating 
Presidency. It is working to promote peace and stability in Europe and 
the Middle East during challenging times. Greece and its Foreign 
Minister George Papandreou continue aggressive efforts to end 
generations of strained relations between Turkey and Greece, including 
actively promoting a settlement on Cyprus and helping to promote 
Turkey's bid for EU membership. Greece understands that a democratic 
Turkey belonging to the EU would serve the interests of Greece, Turkey, 
and all of Europe.
  Economically, Greece is prospering and recently became a member of 
the European Monetary Union. Next year, the Olympics will finally 
return to their birthplace in Greece where athletes and spectators from 
around the world will experience the warmth of Greek hospitality.
  Strategically, Greece remains important, especially to the United 
States. It is a force of stability in the volatile Balkans where it 
continues to promote open markets and democracy. The Greek government 
is also united with the United States in its war on terrorism. Over the 
last year Greek law enforcement and intelligence services have worked 
closely with U.S. authorities to shut down the November 17th terrorist 
group and its terrorist allies in Greece. Greece has made major arrests 
and has begun prosecuting terrorist leaders for their crimes.
  I cannot overstate the importance of strong ties between Greece and 
the United States. As an American citizen who believes firmly in the 
principles of democracy and as a representative of thousands of Greek-
Americans that live in Central New Jersey, I rise today in humble 
recognition of Greek Independence Day.
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in proud recognition of the 
182nd anniversary of Greek Independence. This special day for Greece 
commemorates the end of nearly four hundred years under the rule of the 
Ottoman Empire and a return to its democratic roots.
  The political philosophies of both the United States and Greece have 
been challenged by oppressive powers, and both nations have proudly 
defended their right to self-government. After showing a desire to be 
free from the Ottoman Empire in 1821, Greece endured eleven long years 
of war to succeed in gaining independence. American and Hellenic 
cultures greatly respect their tradition of independence and recognize 
the importance of democratic principles.
  The United States and Greece have always enjoyed a reciprocal 
relationship in international and cultural endeavors. Hellenic 
principles resonate in our culture and politics, since the United 
States was founded on the principles of democracy developed thousands 
of years ago in the city-states of ancient Greece. Hellenic influence 
can even be seen in the architecture of our Capitol building. Our 
country has also had an influence on Greece since our Declaration of 
Independence and the American Revolution influenced their first 
Constitution.
  On a cultural level, I am looking forward to 2004 and the homecoming 
of the Olympic

[[Page 7419]]

Games to Athens. Since Greece resurrected the Olympics in 1896, they 
have symbolized peace and excellence for people around the world. 
Greece will undoubtedly serve as a gracious host of the Games, and the 
25th Summer Olympics will prove again to the world how Hellenic ideals 
such as equality and friendship have stood the test of time and 
continue to flourish at a global level. Hellenic culture, whether 
through its development of democratic government or from its espousal 
of friendly competition, encourages people to come together amicably 
even during the most difficult of times.
  Mr. Speaker, it would be difficult to imagine a United States of 
America, or even the world, without the great contributions from 
Greece. I will continue my work in Congress to support Hellenic causes 
and keep the ties between our two countries strong. I would like to 
join my colleagues in congratulating Greece on the anniversary of its 
independence.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating this anniversary.

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