USA: Katrougalos – Tzakri contacts with representatives of the Greek community

SYRIZA’s Foreign Minister George Katrougalos and the Deputy Foreign Minister in charge of Hellenes Abroad, Theodora Tzakri, had successive meetings with representatives of the Greek community and the American political scene during their visit to the United States.

The two MPs first visited New York and then went to Washington, where they held an online meeting with members of the Greek legislative group of the Congress (Hellenic Caucus).

In addition, they met with the President of the American Hellenic Institute, Nick Laryngakis, and the Executive Director of AHEPA, Vassilis Mossaidis.

During their stay in the US capital, the two lawmakers had the opportunity to meet with State Department officials.

George Katrougalos and Theodora Tzakri focused on the upward course of Greek-American relations, discussing regional issues and highlighting their own different perspectives on certain issues. In particular, they met with:

· Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Middle East Affairs Joey Hood.

· Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Israel and Palestinian Affairs Khandi Arm.

· Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for North Africa Karen Sashahara.

· Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Southern Europe and the Caucasus Erika Olson.

After the meetings, the former Foreign Minister stated that “the upgrade of relations with the United States is something that was started by the SYRIZA government on the basis of reciprocity of interests and reciprocity and is something that we insist on as we consider it to be a right policy.

It must, however, be done in the context of the general multidimensional foreign policy that Greece must implement and the need to play a bridge role between our political home and other important political forces such as the Arab world and other forces in the modern multipolar world. .

I explained this to my interlocutors in a very friendly atmosphere. I have explained the reasons for the differentiation from some recent choices of the current government that challenge this logic of the bridge and seem to restore a previous logic of the “advanced outpost”, such as sending troops to Saudi Arabia.

A general discussion on issues of mutual interest followed, always in a friendly atmosphere, always with the recognition of the American side for the role of Greece as a stabilizing force in the Eastern Mediterranean region and in the Balkans.

I explained to our interlocutors that this is exactly the role of the pillar of stability that we believe our country should always play.

We tried to serve him while we were in the government, both with the Prespa Agreement in the Balkan region and with the tripartite cooperation schemes, culminating in the agreement for the (3) 1 (scheme) and the (EastMed) pipeline in the Eastern Mediterranean “.

For her part, Ms. Tzakri noted: “We are here to send a positive and sincere message of cooperation with the Greek community in America. I would say that our goal is the functional reunification of Hellenism on specific children, educational, administrative, cultural but and investment and development issues.

On the occasion of our visit to New York and Washington, we also came in contact with the Archbishop, who is a point of reference for all Hellenism, with representatives of expatriate organizations, with representatives of the educational community, and with teachers’ associations from the Archdiocese.

We also met Greek businessmen, Greek-Americans and American politicians in order to exchange views and make them share our proposals and positions for the Greek community. ”