World SAE President Andrew A. Athens begins in Washington, on March 23, meetings with members of the U.S. Congress and Administration officials to update them on the medical centers in Hellenic communities of the Newly Independent States, and to seek support on issues of importance to the Hellenic Omogeneia.
�We have invited a number of key members of the Congress and their staff, individuals who have followed with enthusiasm the progress of our Primary Health Care Initiative,� Mr. Athens said. �We expect that their support will remain high over the next two years, too.�
The following day, Mr. Athens will attend the reception hosted by President Bush where the American President will proclaim the celebration of March 25th Greek Independence Day and a dinner hosted by Ambassador John Negroponte, Director of U.S. Intelligence, also in celebration of Independence Day. Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyianni will attend the dinner. The festivities for March 25th in Washington will conclude with a reception on March 25 by Greek Ambassador to the U.S. Alexandros Mallias.
On March 28 and 29, SAE�s President will participate in the Fifth Annual Business Conference on Greece-U.S. Relations in Washington where he is also a sponsor and will participate in the panel on Hellenic education. Education Minister Marietta Yannakou and Deputy Minister of Economy Christos Folias will participate in the conference.
Mr. Athens will be a Grand Marshall at the Independence Day Parade in New York, the largest in the U.S., organized April 2 by the Federation of Greek Organizations of Greater New York. Immediately following the parade he is scheduled to return to Washington where he will meet with administration officials in his effort to renew U.S. government interest in Hellenic issues.
�I have a strong hope that the U.S. government is coming to the conclusion the time is ripe for it to renew its interest in the very important issues involving Southeastern Europe and the Aegean,� Mr. Athens said. �It will definitely be my goal to help re-kindle such interest. It is vital to the future of the region.�
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