Chicago June 22, 2006 οΏ½The President of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad Andrew A. Athens attended the presentation of the book οΏ½THE HOLOCAUST OF THE GREEK JEWRY:MONUMENTS AND MEMORIESοΏ½ that took place yesterday at the U.S. Capitol.

Special remarks on the book published by the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece, and sponsored by the Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs of Greece were offered by Mr. Barry Jacobs, Director of Strategic Studies at the American Jewish Committee, and Mr. Panagiotis Spiliakos, son of Righteous Gentile, Dimitrios Spiliakos.

The Greek Ambassador to Washington, Alexandros Mallias, Senator Paul Sarbanes, Senator Shelley Berkley and others attended the presentation. From Greece the President of the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece, Moses Konstantinis and the President of the Jewish Community of Thessaloniki, David Saltiel also attended the presentation.
οΏ½The history of Greek Jews is a part of the Greek HistoryοΏ½, Mr. Athens stated. οΏ½Our cooperation with organizations of Jews Abroad is an example. This is the reason why the Coordinated Efforts of Hellenes (CEH) established 20 years ago the Frizis Award that honors American Jews that have contributed to the strengthening and development of Greek-Jewish relations.
οΏ½ The Bust of Colonel Frizis in Thessaloniki
SAE President will announce the construction of a memorial-bust of Colonel Frizis in Thessaloniki at a site designated by the city of Thessaloniki.
The memorial will be completed up to the end of the year and is a small token of appreciation to a great Hellene who on November 1940 participated at the final phase of the battle of Pindos that led to the liberation of Konitsa. Colonel Frizis lived a life full of dedication and courage and was killed on December 5, 1940 in Premeti.
οΏ½By honoring this brave Greek Jew, we honor a special part of Hellenism that has contributed, and will continue to do so, to the development of our countryοΏ½, Mr. Athens said. SAE President thanked the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece and the Jewish Community of Thessaloniki for their cooperation. Mr. Athens especially thanked the Hellene, Stefanos Basiaris from Detroit who suggested the construction of the memorial.