Gore 2000 Statement by Al Gore to the American Hellenic Institute Public Affairs Committee Thank you for your questions on my policy toward Greece. I welcome the opportunity to share my views. Last year, my wife Tipper visited Greece. As she remarked at the time, Greece is the birthplace of what we call democracy. Today, that partnership had blossomed all around the world- within nations, and between nations. As President, I want to bring that spirit to U.S relation with Greece. U.S-Greek Relationship The United States and Greece have long -standing historical, political, and cultural ties based on a common heritage, shared democratic values, and participation as allies during World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Cold War. Today, we are partners in NATO, and in the global economy. The U.S is the largest foreign investor in Greece; U.S foreign investment in Greece was estimated to be roughly 2.2 billion in 1998. The strong U.S-Greek bond is a tribute not only to the roughly 1.1 million Americans of Greek origin-whose activism has helped to foster deep political and cultural ties between our countries-but also to the important and long-standing strategic relationship between Greece and the United States. This relationship benefits American national security interests by promoting peace and security in Europe. I am proud that our Administration has helped build stronger, closer ties between the U.S and the Hellenic Republic. When the President traveled to Greece last fall, our Administration announced several new measures to strengthen U.S-Greek relations. These measures included: - Creation of the Initiative for Technology Cooperation in the Balkans (ITCB), which will bring together scientists, business leaders and government officials who are committed to modernizing the region's technological infrastructure.
- Funding for Millennium Scholarships, named in memory of Greece's alternate Foreign Minister, Yiannos Kranidiotis, that will provide assistance to up to 200 Greek students wishing to pursue Master's degrees in the U.S.
- Establishment of the Aegean Communities Exchange, which will create joint research programs by Greek and Turkish scholars.
- Resumption of humanitarian grain shipments by the U.S through Greece to other countries in the region.
- Adoption of a plan to facilitate tourism between the U.S and Greece.
- A pledge by the U.S department of commerce to open a commercial office in Thessaloniki to encourage investments in the Balkans and to assist companies in exploring commercial opportunities.
- A joint commitment by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the U.S State Department to agree to hold annual high-level talks on a wide range of issues, as part of an effort to deepen and enhance communication, understanding, and cooperation between our two countries. Discussions will focus on area such as European regional issues, counterterrorism, and economic cooperation; and
- Full American support of Greece's defense modernization plans, in the context of NATO's Defense Capabilities Initiative.
Also, on February 1, 2000, our Administration transmitted to the Senate, for its advice and consent, a far-reaching U.S-Greek mutual legal assistance treaty on criminal matters signed in Washington on May 26, 1999. As president, I would seek to build on these measures and continue expansion of the U.S-Greek relationship. Cyprus and the Aegean/Policy Toward Turkey Tensions on Cyprus, Greek-Turkish disagreements in the Aegean, and Turkey's relationship with the EU have serious implications for regional stability and the evolution of European political and security structures. Our goal should be to stabilize the region by reducing long-standing Greek-Turkish tensions and pursuing a comprehensive settlement on Cyprus. The administration is working hard to build on the hopeful developments between Greece and Turkey to make progress in the Aegean and on Cyprus. I am fully committed to this process, and to reaching a just and lasting solution to the Cyprus dispute which permits all Cypriots to live in security. I support the current talks being held under the auspices of the UN and remain deeply engaged. As president, I will work to redouble our efforts to find a peaceful solution to these and other territorial disputes in accordance with international law. A democratic, secular, stable and internationally-oriented Turkey is critical to these efforts. I underscored this fact when I met with Prime Minister Ecevit last fall. The President's recent trip to Turkey and Greece also highlighted encouraging signs of progress for reconciliation in the region, including Religious Freedom in Turkey. I am concerned about the scope of religious freedom in Turkey. Last week, the State Department released its annual human rights report, in which we noted that the Turkish authorities monitor the activities of the Eastern Orthodox Churches and their affiliated operations. As the Greek community well knows, the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul has consistently expressed interest in reopening the seminary on the island of Halki in the Sea of Marmara, but the seminary has been closed since 1971. Under current restrictions-which include a citizenship requirement- religious communities remain unable to train new clergy. I believe that a resolution of this issue, in accordance with the principles of religious freedom and tolerance, would help build confidence between Greece and Turkey and promote the cause of freedom and peaceful co-existence throughout the region. Greek-Americans America is strong not in spite of its diversity, but because of it. As President, I will build on the Clinton-Gore Administration's success to build a well-qualified cabinet, staff, and administration that reflects America's diversity. I look forward to working with Americans-including Archbishop Demetrios and leaders of the Greek-American community. My door will always be open to you in cooperation and friendship. |
