World SAE President Andrew A. Athens has honored Hellene leader Vladimir G. Kaysev, First Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Russia, at a dinner in Washington, DC, during an official visit of Mr. Kaysev and a delegation from the Russian Federation.

Political and community leaders attended the dinner including Cypriot Ambassador Euripides Evriviadis, Russian Consul General Sergey Storos, White House National Security Advisor Matt Bryza, Senator Paul Sarbanes and former Congressman and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Ed Derwinski. Earlier, Greek Ambassador George V. Savvaidis hosted a reception at the Greek Embassy.

Mr. Athens presented Mr. Kaysev with a crystal bowl with the inscription, οΏ½The Spirit of Hellenic Diaspora Links Two of the WorldοΏ½s Great CapitalsοΏ½ and the dedication to a οΏ½Dynamic Leader of Russian Hellenes.οΏ½ Mr. Kaysev is president of οΏ½PontosοΏ½ association that represents all the Pontian societies in the former Soviet Union, and former president of the Association of Hellenic Communities in Russia.

οΏ½It is a true indication of the unity we have achieved in the Diaspora when we are in a position to officially host highly placed Hellenes from countries other than our own or Hellas itself,οΏ½ Mr. Athens said. In the same spirit, Ambassador Savvaidis noted that it was the first time when a foreign delegation from a third country was honored at the Greek Embassy and attributed it to the close ties SAE has established with world Hellenism. Among the members of the delegation were Hellene businessmen from Southern Russia where the Greek government and SAE will collaborate in the establishment of a medical center for the benefit of historic Hellenic communities in the Caucasus area.