The American Hellenic Institute Public Affairs Committee is pleased to announce that Section 2804 of the 1999 Ap pro priations bill passed on October 22, 1998 contains provisions calling upon the U.S. to use its influence with Turkey to guarantee the security of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul and to reopen the Halki Theological School. The passage of this legislation achieves a key objective in AHIPAC’s legis la tive program. The legislation states:

“It is the sense of Congress that the United States should use its influence with the Government of Turkey to suggest that the Government of Turkey:

(1) recognize the Ecumenical Patriarchate and its nonpolitical, religious mission;

(2) ensure the continued maintenance of the institution’s physical security needs, as provided for under Turkish and international law, including the Treaty of Lausanne, the 1968 Protocol, the Helsinki Final Act (1975) and the Charter of Paris;

(3) provide for the proper protection and safety of the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Patriarchate personnel; and

(4) reopen the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Halki Patriarchal School of Theology.”

The Patriarchate issue was introduced at AHIPAC’s initiative in the 104th Congress through H.Con.Res. 50. This was carried forward in the 105th Congress in the form of H.Con.Res 6. Congressman Mike Bilirakis (R-FL) introduced both resolutions which attracted numerous co-sponsors. AHIPAC congratulates Congressman Bilirakis for his determination and persistence throughout this process. Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) introduced the Senate version of this legislation in the 105th Congress.

AHIPAC now calls upon the Administration to initiate discussions with Turkey to ensure that it takes immediate practical steps to honor this new U.S. legislation. The Patriarchate’s need for protection was dramatized in January 1998 when an Orthodox deacon attached to Agios Therapon church in Istanbul was murdered.

AHI CALLS ON U.S. TO APPLY LEGISLATION ON HALKI SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY TO TURKEY’S LATEST INTERFERENCE WITH THE SCHOOL

On November 11, 1998, the American Hellenic Institute sent a letter to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright drawing attention to the Turkish decision to dissolve the supervisory committee of the Halki Theological School. The letter states that this action by Turkey provides further evidence of Turkey’s refusal to acknowledge its obligations to protect the Orthodox heritage in Turkey. This decision flagrantly violates all Turkey’s obligations under international law to respect freedom of worship and religion.

AHI has campaigned for many years to urge successive administrations to bring pressure to bear on Turkey to fulfill its legal and moral obligations toward the Orthodox Church in Turkey.

AHIPAC PUBLIC POLICY ACTIVITIES

Events in the region: the Kosovo bombing crisis, the start of detailed negotiations between Cyprus and the European Union, Turkey’s actions restricting maritime traffic through the Bosporus and dissolving the supervisory committee of the Halki Theological School, have enabled us to reinforce our core public policy themes: the positive roles of Greece and Cyprus in advancing U.S. national interests, the need for a critical review of U.S. policy toward Turkey and the need to apply the rule of law to Turkey.

AHI CALLS FOR U.S. TO APPLY RULE OF LAW TO TURKEY

The Kosovo crisis presented a clear example of the double standard that underlies the Administration’s foreign policy approach to Turkey. In a letter to President Clinton of October 15, we pointed this out, saying: “At a time when our nation has invoked the threat of military intervention over the application of UN Security Council Resolution 1199 on Serbia, we utterly fail to apply the same standard of the rule of law and American values to Turkey.”

We showed how these values “are also under attack in Turkey where the Turkish military is conducting a ruthless campaign of ethnic cleansing and repression against its own Kurdish citizens. Turkey’s fourteen-year war of terror against 20% Kurdish minority in Turkish Kurdistan is no secret. The Turkish armed forces have killed over 30,000 Kurds and destroyed 3,000 villages resulting in over two million refugees. Ethnic cleansing has taken place on a vastly wider scale than in Kosovo. And yet our government does nothing.” U.S. support for Turkey, makes the U.S. an accessory to Turkey’s massive human rights violations in Turkey. This is a stain on U.S. honor.

TURKISH VIOLATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

Turkish willingness to violate international law by placing illegal restrictions on shipping through the Bosporus and by dissolving the supervisory committee of the Halki Theological School have allowed us to drive home this point, which we did in letters to Secretary of State Albright on November 9 and 11 respectively.

We attacked Turkey’s continuing claims against Greek sovereign territory in the Aegean when on August 25 President Demirel laid claim to some “132 islets or small islands” which he described as “gray areas’,” adding that they “do not belong to Greece. They belong to us through heritage.”

In a letter to Assistant Secretary of State Marc Grossman on August 28, we described Mr. Demirel’s statement as in violation of international law as codified in a series of international treaties, conventions, and protocols dating from 1922. We also called it dangerously destabilizing, especially given the fact that Demirel is not a fringe, radical nationalist but the president of a country that, nominally at least, claims to be a U.S. ally.

Pointing out that the Turkish military controls foreign policy and national security matters under the Turkish constitution and is the force behind Demirel, we called upon the U.S. not to allow these remarks to go unchallenged. We warned that U.S. silence will stimulate further Turkish adventurism. To avert this danger we called for a firm U.S. statement to the effect that it regards these Turkish claims as without legal foundation and that, if Turkey wishes to pursue them, it should refer them immediately to the International Court of Justice at The Hague.

THE EUROPEAN UNION OPENS NEGOTIATIONS WITH CYPRUS

Turning to Cyprus, a very positive event took place on November 10 in the opening of substantive negotiations between Cyprus and the European Union. This gave us the opportunity to bring home to the U.S. media the broad-based European support for Cyprus’s EU entry. This has bolstered previous action we took to reject a Turkish Cypriot attempt to rewrite the international consensus on the framework for a Cyprus settlement. We also defended Cy prus’s right to acquire the S-300 defensive missile system.

In a letter to Secretary Albright of September 3, we called upon the Administration to reject the August 31 claim by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash that “federation is out now and confederation is the only thing left.” We cited this statement as yet further evidence that the Turkish military controls Turkish foreign policy in ways that are dangerous to U.S. national interests. We asked that the Administration should make clear to the Turkish military without delay that “their approach of a confederation is a non-starter and should be abandoned forthwith.” We warned that the Turkish military had embarked on a campaign to negate the Administration’s positions one after another. We called on the Administration to honor its 1992 and 1996 campaign promises and to put an end to this insidious process.

U.S. GOVERNMENT ANALYSIS CONFIRMS AHI ASSESSMENT OF S-300 AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM AS WHOLLY DEFENSIVE

On the S-300 issues we cited an analysis by the U.S. Army Missile and Space Intelligence Center to the effect that this system has a wholly defensive capability and could not be converted into an offensive system. This analysis refutes claims by the Administration that the S-300 system is “destabilizing.” In our letter of September 15 to Secretary Albright, we asked that the Administration take corrective action to inform Turkey that any Turkish action against Cyprus on this issue would be met by a decisive American response.

PROTEST TO JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS

On a slightly unusual subject, AHI wrote to three leading Jewish organizations to protest their advertisement in the New York Times of November 8 congratulating Turkey on its 75th anniversary of the establishment of the republic. In the letter we expressed our regret that “through this advertisement, you show yourselves ready to place geostrategic calculus ahead of fundamental moral principle. The suffering of the Jewish people over the centuries and particularly in this century has taught the world that it is morally unacceptable, indeed that it is a crime against humanity for a government to target its citizens for extinction on grounds of ethnic or religious origin. The Holocaust has brought home to all of us that there can be no exceptions to this principle, no derogations allowed for raison d’ tat.

“Sadly, your advertisement does exactly this. It turns a blind eye to the fact that Turkey is a country with a well-documented record of crimes against humanity, both today and in the history of this century. The Armenian massacres of 194-15 were this century’s first genocide and to this day Turkey refuses to acknowledge its responsibility for this crime against humanity.

“Today, the Turkish government’s genocidal treatment of its Kurdish minority is little short of the pogroms from which the Jewish people have so grievously suffered over the years. We find it very disturbing that an organization such as the American Jewish Committee that exists in part to bear witness against such terrible acts should allow Realpolitik to take precedence over morality by publicly praising Turkey, a country that stands in denial of one genocide and is an active practitioner of another.”

AHIF NOON FORUMS ATTRACT OVERFLOW CROWDS TO HELLENIC HOUSE

GREECE AND THE EURO: THE IMPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES IN SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE

On October 6, 1998 Mr. Dimitris P. Santixis, Deputy Governor of the Agricultural Bank of Greece gave a presentation at AHI on the subject of the European Monetary Union and the implications on financial services in the European Union, Greece and the Balkans.

Mr. Santixis spoke optimistically about EMU. He pointed out that this had helped Europe avoid the worst effects of the present global financial turmoil. For the future, the increasing pace of European economic and financial integration would continue to strengthen Europe’s position as a source of economic stability. As a result of EMU, Europe would come to enjoy many of the business strengths of the United States.

In the financial sector, EMU would have a dramatic impact. It would remove many inefficiencies such as currency exchange costs. Further, by turning Europe into a single financial zone, it would ease financial and business decision-making. Government and corporate debt would be denominated in a single currency, thus eliminating country and foreign exchange risk. Cross-border acquisitions and cooperation in banking, which to date had been a rarity in Europe, would become commonplace.

Within Greece, the implications of EMU would also be positive. While Greece had not yet met the convergence criteria of the Maastricht Treaty, it was important to note the positive trend in the Greek economy. The improvements have been dramatic, both in attitudes and performance. Inflation and government and public debt have fallen. There is little doubt that Greece would be ready to join EMU by the 2001 target date and that this would have a positive impact on many sectors of the economy. The Greek financial services industry is preparing itself for this change through acquisitions and privatization.

EMU would also allow Greece to play a leadership role in the Balkans. As the sole country in the region that was an EU member, Greece is anxious to act as a channel of investment and development expertise to its neighbors. The Greek banks hope that their experience will help these countries in the transition from command to market economies, especially in the area of the restructuring of the financial services industry which is already underway.

THE UNITED STATES & GREECE: AMBASSADOR Nicholas BURNS WELCOMES IM PROVED RELATIONS

At an October 29, 1998 presentation at AHI, Ambassador Nicholas Burns, U.S. Ambassador to Greece, spoke optimistically about improvements in the relationship and the degree of mutually beneficial cooperation. After a period in which the U.S. and Greece had not always seen eye-to-eye, U.S. and Greek foreign policy interests are “converging not diverging.” He praised AHI for its positive contributions to U.S.-Greek relations.

The highlights of Ambassador Burns’ speech included:

Strong Personal Relationships: The 1998 visits by two U.S. cabinet officials and FBI Director Louis Freeh are a testament to the U.S.’ recognition of Greece’s importance to U.S. interests in Southeastern Europe and elsewhere in Europe.

Economic and Commercial Is sues: The drama tic im prove ments in Greece’s economic performance have prompted U.S. in ves tors to look more favorably on Greece, a trend that Ambassador Burns is actively encouraging.

Terrorism: The U.S. notes a new determination in Greece to address this issue constructively.

Military Affairs: Relations are excellent. The U.S. is deeply committed to the military importance of Greece and hopes to remain Greece’s principal supplier of military equipment and to participate actively in Greece’s current procurement program.

Cyprus: The U.S. rejects the call by Turkish Cypriot leader for a ‘confederation’ on Cyprus as “not constructive and not realistic.” The U.S. remains firmly supportive of a bizonal, bicommunal approach.

Greece/Turkey Relations: The U.S. is concerned about the significant political and other differences between Greece and Turkey and seeks to act “effectively” between the two countries. The U.S. had criticized claims by Turkish President Suleyman Demirel to 132 Greek island and islets.

Q and A: Questions were raised on subjects such as the U.S. reluctance to take a clear position on the subject of Turkish claims against Greek sovereign territory in the Aegean, U.S. apparent favoritism of Turkey on the European Union and Caspian oil, and U.S. refusal to apply pressure on Turkey over Cyprus.

Full details of these and Ambassador Burns’ remarks may be found in press release number 49 on the AHI Web site.

AHIPAC SENDS QUESTIONNAIRE TO ALL CANDIDATES

AHIPAC sent its 1998 candidate questionnaire to all candidates in the November 1998 mid-term elections for the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate seeking their responses to issues of concern to the Greek American community.

The questionnaire covered ten issues:

1.  Turkish illegal claims in the Aegean

2. Cyprus

3. Demilitarization of Cyprus

4. The Right of Cyprus to Acquire Defensive Weapons

5.  The Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Halki Patriarchal School of Theology

6. The Turkish Blockade of Armenia

7. The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

8.  Human Rights for Turkish Citizens—20% Kurdish Minority

9.  Critical review and Reassessment of U.S.-Turkey Relations

10. Albania

For each issue, the questionnaire provided background m a terial together with policy recommendations based on AHIPAC’s analysis of the U.S.’ national interests. The questionnaire outlined current Administration policy or, where relevant, existing legislation introduced or passed in the 105th Congress or earlier. It requested that the candidate indicate his or her opinion on these issues. Where appropriate, the questionnaire requested the candidate to state whether he or she would support similar legislation in the 106th Congress or new legislation or hearings de signed to bring about the desired policy changes.

In his letter to each candidate AHIPAC chairman Nicholas E. Chimicles stated:

“The issues concerning United States relations with Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey are of importance to all Americans. Our positions, as reflected in these questions, are based on what we believe is in the best interests of the United States.”

GREENPEACE OPPOSES PROPOSED TURKISH NUCLEAR REACTOR

Greenpeace has reported that Turkey is planning to build 10 nuclear reactors by the year 2020, the first of which is to be built at Akkuyu Bay located at the southeast Mediterranean coast and is scheduled to become operational in 2005.

According to Greenpeace, a team of Turkish marine geophysicists and a British geologist have concluded that the Akkuyu site is next to an active fault. John Taylor of the Australian National University has stated that the nuclear power reactor at Akkuyu Bay would have the potential of creating a major catastrophe in an area of seismic activity. If there is an accident, an earthquake, or sabotage, a number of Middle Eastern countries will be impacted disastrously. These include: Cyprus, Israel, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

The project is to be financed by Atomic Energy (Canada), Westinghouse (USA) and Siemens (Germany).

The information regarding the Turkish reactor appears on the web site of Greenpeace (http://www.greenpeace.org) which is opposing the building of the reactor because it deems it catastrophic for the area.

THE Y2K AND YOUR PC

Rallie Rallis, a long-time member of AHI from California, is an entrepreneur with business interests in products and services that he says “saves my clients and customers money.” Rallis, a distributor of the “Y2K Clock,” says it is the “solution for Year 2000 PC compliance.”

In addition to his commercial water treatment business, International Water Management, Inc., Rallis’ company, R&D Energy Resources, Inc., has been involved in California’s electrical deregulation, as a direct electrical service provider, through affiliation with Eastern Pacific Energy, and independent gas and electric provider. R&D also provides energy saving devices. One such product is the Pentech Energy Recovery controller (PERC), which according to Rallis reduces energy consumption by 20 to 40% on packaged HVAC systems (2 ton–40 ton cooling, and up to 500,000 BTU furnaces.

Rallis is now focusing on bringing to his present and future clients, the “total solution for making personal computers Year 2000 compliant the right way,” says Rallis.

Rallis truly believes that the “Y2K Clock, which is fully certified by the National Software Testing Laboratories (NSTL), is the only cost effective and credible solution for the Y2K problem.”

The Y2K Clock is a plug-in-module that can be installed and NSTL tested for Year 2000 compliance in less than ten (10) minutes. According to Rallis the Y2K Clock features these guaranteed benefits:

•  “One size” fits all PC-AT architecture makes and models;

•  It is compatible with all Intel CPU chips from the 8026 forward;

•  It is compatible with all BIOS versions from all BIOS vendors (Its BIOS code resided in ROM making it immune to viruses and accidental modifications);

•  It non-intrusively coexists with the PC (It will not corrupts any existing data, files or programs in the PC);

•  It requires no user software adjustments (You no longer have to worry about “de-bugging” a software fix or inadequate testing); and

•  It is inexpensive (the price for a single unit is $99).

“Prior to the Y2K Clock’s introduction, the only available options that attempted to solve the PC’s Y2K problem were: (1) Purchase a new computer system; (2) Up-grade the existing PC; or (3) a Remedial fix to the PC,” says Rallis. “These three options still leave you with potential liability issues that have to be carefully evaluated. Needless to say, Y2K Clock’s third party certification is a significant factor in any analysis,” said Rallis.

Rallis recommends that companies and individuals with PC’s obtain an objective, unbiased, and precise verification of each PC’s Year 2000 hardware compliance. Available free of charge from Rallie Rallis is a NSTL test on diskette. The test is easy, self-explanatory, and takes only sixty seconds.

Anyone interested in more information on the Y2K Clock, and wants to obtain the test diskette, can contact Rallie Rallis directly at telephone: (562) 594-0901 or fax: (562) 431-4699.

BRINGING TOGETHER GREEK AMERICANS IN PSYCHIATRY

AHI member, Maria T. Lymberis, M.D. is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine and also serves as the Treasurer of the American Psychiatric Association, an organization comprised of over 20,000 members at the national level.

Dr. Lymberis is a very energetic woman who is profoundly proud of her Hellenic heritage and who wants to use her professional expertise to bring together Greek Americans who have an interest in psychiatry. As a psychiatrist committed to patient care and the study of cultural, racial, ethnic issues in psychiatry, “I have been keenly aware of the absence of any formal Greek psychiatric organization.” Says Dr. Lymberis.

Therefore, upon her election as Treasurer to the American Psychiatric Association, she vowed to “use the occasion to spearhead the effort to establish the Hellenic American Psychiatric Association (HAPA),” said Dr. Lymberis. “This is of special significance for me because I came to the U.S. as a foreign student in the late 1950’s. Establishing such an organization represents a deeply felt expression of gratitude and service to my roots and my core identity as a Greek,” continued Dr. Lymberis.

Dr. Lymberis believes that there is a pressing need to educate the Greek American community about psychiatric issues. According to the World Health Organization, by the year 2000, depression will be the second major illness, next only to heart disease. “The Decade of the Brain has given us new knowledge and new treatments. The Greek American community needs to benefit from these exciting advances in diagnosis and treatment,” states Dr. Lymberis.

Helping Dr. Lymberis on the steering committee to establish the Hellenic American Psychiatric Association are: Dr. George Alexopoulos, Cornell University, Dr. Anthony Kales, Penn State University, Dr. Constantine Lyketsos, Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Mike Kalogerakis, and Dr. Miltiades Zaphiropoulos, Columbia University.

The immediate goal of the steering committee is to formally establish HAPA and to hold the first meeting in conjunction with the 1999 American Psychiatric Association (APA) annual meeting which will be held in Washington, DC on May 15, 1999. According to Dr. Lymberis, membership is open to all Greek or Greek identified members of the APA. This includes medical students, members-in-training, early career psychiatrists, general and international psychiatrists. The mission of HAPA is “committed to the psychiatric needs of Greeks in the U.S., Greece and all over the world through scientific knowledge and exchange,” said Dr. Lymberis.

Anyone interested in learning more about HAPA should contact the HAPA Steering Committee Chair, Maria T. Lymberis, MD, 1500 Montana Avenue, #204, Santa Monica, CA 90403, fax: 310-454-1039, e-mail: mlymberi@ucla.edu

Mark Your Calendar: AHI 24th Anniversary Dinner To Be Held SatURDAY, March 6, 1999

The American Hellenic Institute 24th Anniversary Hellenic Heri tage and National Public Service Awards Dinner will be held on Saturday, March 6, 1999 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Honorees at the gala who will be presented with Hellenic Heritage and National Public Service Awards are:

• Congressman Robert Andrews (D-NJ);

•  Theodora Hancock, President, Hellenic American Women’s Council;

• Matina Souretis Horner, Ph.D., renowned educator;

•  C.Dean Metropoulos, Chairman & CEO, C. Dean Metropoulos & Co., businessman & philanthropist;

•  Dr. Constantine Papadakis, President, Drexell University; and

• Peter Venetis, President, Atlantic Bank

“The Annual Dinner is the major fundraising effort of the AHI during the year and we hope that all our members and friends can support this effort,” said AHI Chairman James Marketos.

This annual gala attracts persons from all over the country and usually includes international guests from Greece, Cyprus, Canada, and Venezuela.

Information for joining the “Host Committee” and placing advertisements in the Commemorative Dinner Journal will be mailed in early December. Invitations will be sent out at the beginning of 1999. For more information please contact the AHI at 202-785-8430 or 800-424-9607.

AHI Business Network Hosts Networking Receptions in Los Angeles and Sacramento, California

Harry J. Pappas, President & CEO of Pappas Telecasting Companies, was the featured speaker at two AHI Business Network Receptions in Los Angeles, CA on October 19 and in Sacramento, CA on October 20.

Over 90 persons attended the Los Angeles reception at the Los Angeles Downtown Marriott. Leading the Host Committee in Miami was Event Chairperson, longtime AHI member, James F. Dimitriou, Ph.D. The others on the Committee included: Dino Basdakis, 1st Vice President-Investments, Smith Barney, James Birakos, Birakos & Associates, Peter B. Caloyeras, Chairman, Magnetika, Inc., Gene Chronopoulos, President, Greek-Americans in the Arts & Entertainment, Vasilios Dedes, Producer/Project Manager, Cutting Edge Productions, Inc., Robert Krantz, President, Ellinas Productions, Inc., Christina Lycoyannis, Esq., Maria T. Lymberis, M.D., Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, UCLA School of Medicine; Treasurer, American Psychiatric Association, Chris Minoudis, Vice President, Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank, George Panagiotou, President, Pana-Tek, Inc., John Poulos, President, Poulos & Associates, Rallie P. Rallis, President, International Water Management, Inc., Theodosios Roussos, President, Roussos Investments, Dr. James G. Selimos, President, James G. Selimos, Inc., Peter Trian tafyllos, President, Triantafyllos Design and the AHEPA Hellenic Heritage Foundation-1999 Tournament of Roses Float.

In Sacramento, CA over 80 persons came to the beautiful Hyatt Regency Sacra men to to hear Harry Pap pas.

Serving as the Event Chair person was Chris Siou kas, AHI-Sacramento President and Vice President, JAS Developments, Inc. The Honorary Chairperson was long-time AHI Supporter and Greek American activist, Angelo K. Tsakopoulos, Chairman of AKT Development Corporation.

Assisting Mr. Sioukas on the Host Committee were, Kosta J. Adams, D.D.S., Phil Angelides, Treasurer-elect of California & President, River West Investments, Gus Bag atelos, President, Commercial Window Systems, Inc., John N. Galaxidas, Manager, Ernst & Young/Kenneth Leventhal Real Estate Group, Charles Griffiths, Thermogenesis, Inc., Theodore J. Holt, Esq., Hackard, Holt & Heller, Gerry N. Kamilos, President, Gerry N. Kamilos, LLC, Chris Ksidakis, Partner, The Gateway Company, Sotiris K. Kolokotronis, President, Lexington Home/Shasta Real Estate Company, Sam D. Manolakas, President, President, Brookfields Restaurant, Stefan L. Manolakas, President, Palisades Properties, Jack Molodanof, Esq., Yanni Pandeleos, Owner, Symposium Restaurant, Alexis S. Peters, President, Business Printing & Copies, Inc., Nicholas W. Rotas, D.D.S., Partner, Sacramento Oral Surgery, John Sinadinos & Demetrios Vryonis, Partners, Sinadinos & Vryonis, Dean Sioukas, Esq., Jack Sioukas, D.D.S., President, JAS Developments, Inc., Michael W. Stumbos, Proprietor, City Treasure Restaurant/ Stumbos & Co., Real Estate, Steve Tingus, Public Director, California Foundations for Independent Living Centers, Kyriakos Tsakopoulos, AKT Development Corporation, Eleni F. Tsakopoulos, President, AKT De vel opment Corporation and Chris Vrame, Owner, Sierra Holdings, LLC.

Mr. Pappas captivated both audiences with gripping presentations depicting his early life as a Greek American and the many obstacles en countered along the way by his family. His story, told with enthusiasm and reflecting his engaging personality, revived memories of shared experiences held in common with most early Greek settlers who came to these shores. His presentations touched many persons in both audiences with images of stories they had been told or of their own personal experiences.

Mr. Pappas went on to also explain about his profession and how he started out in T.V. and Radio. Mr. Pappas recounted the history of his career in broadcasting. His first job was as a part-time announcer on a Las Vegas, NV, station where his brother was general manager. Next, he formed a joint venture along with his twin brothers, Mike and Pete, to purchase and operate a country-western station in Tulare, CA. The success of this station enabled the brothers to found Pappas Television Inc. which, in 1971, won the license to operate KMPH in Visalia, CA. In 1978 Mr. Pappas purchased all the outstanding shares and became sole stockholder of Pappas Telecasting Inc.

Further acquisitions in the Carolinas and Nebraska followed, with both the new stations, WHNS and KPTM, becoming two of the highest ranked independent TV stations in the country. Today the company owns five FOX affiliates, seven WB affiliates, an ABC affiliate, an Univision affiliate and two independent stations. Further, it has won permits to construct stations in Los Angeles, Lexington, KY, and Evansville, IN.

Mr. Pappas serves on the Fox Network Board of Governors and is a member of the Board of Governors of the National Association of Broadcasters. Deeply involved in legislation affecting the broadcast industry, Mr. Pappas has testified before Congress and participated in White House conferences. Mr. Pappas is active in community service activities. Together with Stella, his wife of 28 years, he founded the Greek Community of Fresno Foundation and is establishing a National Foundation for Greek Orthodoxy.

Explaining his philosophy of success, Mr. Pappas said he subscribes to the “Four P’s”—people, power, programming, and promotion. By hiring the best people, operating his stations with optimum power, providing the best programming, and through constant, consistent, and creative promotion, his stations are among the most successful in the nation.

Harry and Stella Pappas and their son John Steven reside in Visalia, CA.

For persons interested in helping to host an event in their city, contact Nick Larigakis at 1-800-424-9607 or 202-785-8430.

The Summer 1998 AHI Interns

In the summer of 1998, AHI was fortunate to have a team of interns who assisted with various programs, including our publications program and pending legislation in Congress.

Dena Fokas, a Greek American from Charleston, SC, interned at AHI for two months during the summer. Her parents are from Mavrata, Kephalonia. A senior at Furman University majoring in political science and religion, Dena came to Washington with 24 other Furman students on an internship pro gram. During high school she was a member of the Greek Orthodox Youth of America (GOYA) at her church, and continues her involvement as an advisor. A recipient of the American Hellenic Educational and Progressive Association (AHEPA) scholarship, Dena will continue her Studies of international politics at the graduate level.

Christina Rocha is a senior at Chatham College in Pittsburgh concentrating in international relations. Christina is a first generation Greek American from Baltimore, MD; her mother emigrated from Athens, Greece. Christina came to AHI for six weeks in the summer of 1998 following a six-week internship at Senator Sarbanes’ office. After her internship, Christina will finish her BA at Chatham and plans to continue with graduate studies and pursue a career in international relations or the U.S. Foreign Service.

Christina Rocha and Dena Fokas worked together on various projects and considered their time at AHI invaluable. They took advantage of the many opportunities to further their knowledge about U.S. foreign policy toward Greece and Cyprus.

Dena and Christina met with their Representatives Mark Sanford (R-SC) and Robert Ehrlich (D-MD), respectively, to discuss U.S. relations with Greece and Cyprus.

In addition, through monitoring the daily press and legislation in Congress, writing letters, and interacting with the Greek and Cyprus Embassies, they studied the current issues. They helped draft the chronology of events for our Handbook on United States Relations With Greece and Cyprus. Dena and Christina value their excellent experience with the AHI internship in Washington greatly, and realize that at AHI they gained first-hand knowledge they could not have experienced elsewhere.

AHI HOLDS FAREWELL LUNCHEON FOR CYPRUS AMBASSADOR ANDROS NICOLAIDES

On August 13, 1998, the American Hellenic Institute held a luncheon at the Capital Hilton Hotel, Washington, D.C. to say farewell to Ambassador Andros Nicolaides and Mrs. Ero Nicolaides on the occasion of their departure from Washington. Ambassa dor Nicolaides is retiring from the foreign service and is returning to Nicosia.

Guests attending in cluded the Ambassa dor of Greece Alexander Philon, Special Cy prus Coordinator Ambassador Thomas Miller, scholars, businessmen and many more.

Nicholas Chimicles, Esq. Chairman of AHIPAC, and Mrs. Theodora Hancock, president of HAWC, presented Ambassador Nicolaides with the AHI Hellenic Heritage Public Service Award. Mr. Eugene T. Rossides praised Ambassador Nicolaides’ personal energy and efforts in projecting throughout the United States the issues involved in the Cyprus problem.

Speakers included Ambassador Miller, Ambassador Philon. and Mr. Ike Pappas. They joined Mr. Rossides in praising Ambassador Nicolaides for his accomplishments in Washington and in wishing him well in his retirement.

All speakers praised Mrs. Nicolaides for her contributions to the performance of the Cyprus Embassy. AHI Chairman James Marketos and Mrs. Ona Spiredellis, from HAWC, presented Mrs. Nicolaides with a piece of Stuben crystal.

In his remarks, Ambassador Nicolaides thanked AHI for its role in the Cypriot issues and said that they should continue until the Turkish military is out of Cyprus for good. Ambassador Nicolaides said that he will continue his efforts to support the Greek American role to bring to Cyprus peace, unity, tranquility and a role in the world we are entering today.

AHI records its thanks to Ambassador and Mrs. Nicolaides for their service to Greek American relations. All of us wish them both every success in their new life in Nicosia.

AHI CHAPTERS ADDED IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH AND COLUMBUS, OHIO

AHI Executive Director, Nick Larigakis, traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah on October 16 and Columbus, Ohio on November 7 where he was the guest speaker at the inaugural events of two new AHI Chapters.

The Salt Lake City Chapter is being headed by Peter B. Sarandos, Esq., an attorney in the Law Offices of Bryan C. Robinson & Associates, L.C. Mr. Sarandos will be assisted by Tony Thimakis, executive director of the Greek Orthodox Community of Greater Salt Lake. An evening reception was hosted at the community center of the Holy Trinity Cathedral.

The Columbus Chapter is headed by William A. Nicolozakes, Esq. of the law firm, Kegler, Brown, Hill & Ritter. The law firm was kind enough to host a reception at their offices to help get the chapter started.

AHI Members In The “News”

Members Elected to Office

Phil Angelides, was elected California State Treasurer.

Maria Pappas, was elected Cook County Treasurer of Chicago, Illinois.

Leonidas Raptakis, was elected to a second term as State Senator of Rhode Island.

Members Being Honored

Dr. James F. Dimitriou, was given “ A Special Testimonial Dinner” from The South Bay AHEPA Family for his 29 years of service to the Order of AHEPA.

HELLENIC HOUSE VISITORS

Andreas Andrianopoulos, currently a fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center and a former Greek Minister of Trade, Industry, Energy and Technology.

Notis Papadopoulos, the new Washington bureau chief for Mega TV and Kathemirini newspaper.

Ambassador Alexander Phi lon, the new Ambassador of Greece to the United States.

Ambassador Lysandros Mig lia ressis-Phocas, Director, North America Affairs, Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

December

12   AHIF Noon Forum at Hellenic House—The European Union: Future Relations With Cyprus and Turkey; Guest Speaker: James Moorehouse, Member of the European Parliament

16   Annual AHI Christmas Party at Hellenic House, 1220 16th Street, N.W., Washington, DC, 6 p.m.-8.p.m.

January

19   AHI Meeting of Members and Board of Directors at Hellenic House, Washington, D.C. 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

23   AHIPAC Legislative Conference—San Diego, CA