[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.

[[Page 367]]

    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.