    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 12 (Monday, March 26, 2007)]
    [Pages 366-368]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks at a Celebration of Greek Independence Day

    March 23, 2007

        The President. Your Eminence, thanks. It's great to have you back at
    the White House. One of the joys about being the President is, you get
    to meet some pretty interesting people. And I will tell Your Eminence, I
    value our friendship. You're such a gentle soul, and it gives me great--
    it soothes my spirit to be with you. I appreciate your prayers, and I
    appreciate your leadership, and I am proud to join you in celebrating
    the 186th anniversary of Greek independence. And we're glad you're here.
    Thanks for coming.
        As you can tell, there is going to be a series of orations, and then
    you get to go have some refreshments. [Laughter] I appreciate the
    leaders of the Greek American community who are here with us today. Our
    country is home to 1.2 million Greek Americans--actually, more than
    that. And, Your Eminence, Greek Americans have really enriched our
    culture and enriched our Nation's heritage. They're a lively bunch, as
    you know--[laughter]----
        Archbishop Demetrios. Absolutely.
        The President. ----but an important group of people in our country,
    and that's really what we celebrate here. We celebrate our friendship
    with the nation of Greece.

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        And Madam Foreign Minister, thanks for coming. I talked to Condi
    about her discussions with you. We have a lot to do together, and I
    appreciate your leadership.
        I thank the Ambassador for joining us today. Mr. Ambassador, thanks.
    Thanks for bringing Francoise, wife. I appreciate the Ambassador from--
    the Cypriot Ambassador to the United States. Andreas, thank you for
    coming. Appreciate you being here. Thank you for bringing your wife,
    Kareen.
        I want to thank Nick Burns for being here, former Ambassador to
    Greece from the United States, now top official at the State Department.
    One of my top advisers happens to be a Greek American--Fran Townsend,
    Fran Fragos Townsend--[laughter]--whose advice I listen to on a regular
    basis, Your Eminence. Thank you for serving.
        I appreciate Members of Congress who have come. Thank you all for
    taking time: Congressmen Carolyn Maloney from New York; Gus Bilirakis
    from Florida; John Sarbanes from Maryland; Zack Space from Ohio. I
    appreciate you all coming. You're welcome to be here.
        I want to thank Father Alex--wherever you are--there he is. Father
    Alex, yes, trying to be as low profile as possible. [Laughter]
    Appreciate you coming, and thanks for your continued friendship.
        I want to thank members of the United States military, Greek
    Americans who wear the uniform of the United States. I thank you for
    your service; I thank you for your dedication; I thank you for your
    stalwart defense of freedom and peace.
        As you mentioned, Your Eminence, in 1821, the people of Greece
    proclaimed their independence, and they risked their lives to secure
    liberty. They knew that their land had been the home of the first
    democratic society, the first place in the world where people could
    choose their leaders, speak their minds, and freely explore the arts and
    the sciences.
        These Greek patriots also knew that freedom and democracy were more
    than just a legacy--that they were their destiny. And they believed,
    like I believe, that freedom is the hope of all mankind--not just a few
    people, but of all mankind.
        And when they made their stand for freedom and independence, they
    found a lot of friends in this country, Americans who express their
    support by contributing funds, and some who volunteer to serve in the
    new Greek Army. Americans stood with Greece again after World War II,
    when violent Communist insurgents threatened Greece's free Government.
    As you mentioned, President Truman saw the danger, and he articulated a
    new and bold doctrine for our country. In an address to the United
    States Congress, he put it this way: ``It must be the policy of the
    United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted
    subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures.''
        Like democracy itself, the Truman Doctrine grew out of the
    experience of the Greek people and affirmed the desire for freedom for
    all people--not just a handful, not just some, but for all.
        Today, Greece and the United States are allies in the cause of
    freedom, Madam Minister, and I want you to send thanks to your
    Government. In Afghanistan, a Greek engineering team provides support to
    the International Security Assistance Force; a Greek medical team
    provides emergency care to those who are wounded. And we thank you very
    much.
        In Lebanon, Greek naval units are part of a UNIFIL force supporting
    the democratic Siniora Government. These Greek forces are serving with
    courage; they're helping young democracies who struggle against the
    forces of evil. And I appreciate your vision. I appreciate the good work
    that we're doing to lay the foundation of peace for generations to come.
    It is hard work, Madam Minister, but it is necessary work.
        I appreciate the important help Greece has provided to Americans who
    find themselves in danger overseas. Last summer, Greece was one of the
    first nations to offer ships to help evacuate Americans who found
    themselves stranded in Lebanon following Hizballah's unprovoked
    terrorist attacks on Israel. We called for your help, and you delivered,
    and we appreciate that a lot. That's what friends do.
        In January, the Greek Government responded quickly following a
    grenade attack

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    on our Embassy in Athens. And we appreciate the determination of Greek
    authorities to bring those responsible for this attack to justice. We're
    grateful for the many messages of sympathy and support we've received
    after those attacks.
        We also share with Greece important ties of faith, Your Eminence.
    The Greek Orthodox Church counts more than 1 million members in the
    United States, and it plays a vital role in the spiritual life of our
    Nation. Your Eminence, I thank you and congratulate you on 40 years of
    ministry as a bishop. You're providing necessary and important
    leadership here in the United States. You are a man of wisdom. You're a
    man of prayer. I appreciated your thoughtful response to me and Laura
    after the September the 11th attacks. These were tough times for our
    Nation, and your comforting call meant a lot to me.
        I thank you for your determination to rebuild what was lost on that
    terrible day. On 9/11, the terrorists who struck Manhattan brought down
    not only magnificent skyscrapers but a humble house of worship. Before
    those attacks, St. Nicholas Church stood just south of the second tower
    of the World Trade Center. Your vision is for a new St. Nicholas to rise
    just a few steps from its original site. And with your help, St.
    Nicholas will once again be a sanctuary of faith in New York's financial
    district and a new center of reconciliation for visitors from all over
    the world.
        I thank you very much, Your Eminence, for gracing this house. This
    is the people's house. This belongs to everybody who's an American. I
    thank you for your vision of peace. I thank you for your spirituality.
    And I thank you for joining me as we celebrate Greek Independence Day.
        May God bless you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 3:10 p.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of
    the Greek Orthodox Church in America; Minister of Foreign Affairs Dora
    Bakoyannis of Greece; Greece's Ambassador to the U.S. Alexandros P.
    Mallias; Cyprus's Ambassador to the U.S. Andreas S. Kakouris; Reverend
    Father Alex Karloutsos, assistant to the Archbishop for public affairs;
    and Prime Minister Fuad Siniora of Lebanon.