World SAE President Andrew A. Athens has launched a series of visits to Omogeneia communities aimed, in various locations, at supporting Hellenic heritage, boosting Trade and Tourism with Hellas, and providing humanitarian aid and safeguarding Diaspora Hellenes facing terrorist actions.

Mr. Athens participated in the famed Hellenic Parade Celebrating the National Independence Day March 25th, on New YorkοΏ½s 5th Avenue over the weekend. οΏ½This event, organized by the New York Federation of Hellenic Organizations, is one of the most magnificent annual events in America and draws the attention of Hellenes worldwide,οΏ½ he stated. οΏ½That visit provided me with the opportunity to share a day of pride and joy with the Omogeneia.οΏ½

The President of World SAE was one of the sponsors of a highlight of the festivities, the dinner honoring New YorkοΏ½s Mayor Bloomberg. In other occasions he met with the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Nikos Tsartsionis and Greek Parliament members Eugenios Haitidis and Gregory Niotis, respectively president and vice president of the ParliamentοΏ½s Permanent Committee on Hellenes Abroad.
In Washington
Following the celebration in New York, Mr. Athens flew to Washington to welcome participants in the Fourth Annual Business Conference On Greece-US Relations, April 11-12, titled οΏ½The New Greece οΏ½ Business, Investment and Tourism following Olympic Success.οΏ½ The United Hellenic American Congress (UHAC) and SAE are co-hosts of the conference which is hosted by the Hellenic-American Heritage Council of Washington and is co-sponsored by the US Chamber of Commerce.
Conference Participants on the Hellenic side include Minister of Public Order George Vougarakis; Deputy Minister of Economy Petros Doukas; Ambassador of Greece George Savvaides;  Deputy Chief of Mission Eleftherios Anghelopoulos; and Greek National Tourist Organization Director George Tamvakis. American participants include John Negreponte, new U.S. Director of National Intelligence; U.S. Ambassador to Greece Charles Ries; National Security Council Director for the Aegean Matthew Bryza; Undesecretary for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns; White House Advisor Frances Fragos Townsend; U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes; Congressman Cliff Stearns, chairman, Commerce and Trade subcommittee; and Congressman Harold Rogers, chairman, Homeland Security Appropriations subcommittee.
Mr. Athens will visit next week Georgia where he will have a series of meetings with Georgian officials and representatives of Hellenic Communities on issues of humanitarian aid and security.