WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 15-Today the most senior U.S. foreign policy officials in the American government, including Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, agreed to fully support UN efforts to find a name for FYROM which is acceptable to the people of Greece and FYROM.  These commitments were given at meetings in Washington, D.C. led by the Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios.  Archbishop Demetrios was accompanied by the Vice-Chairman of the Archdiocesan Council, Michael Jaharis, and the head of Government Relations for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, Father Alexander Karloutsos, as well as SAE World President Andrew A. Athens and CEH President Andrew E. Manatos, who coordinated these meetings in Washington, D.C.  Also invited to participate in these meetings were the Supreme President of AHEPA, Frank Manios, and the Supreme President of the Pan-Macedonian Association of the U.S. and Canada, Sotirios Proios.

At the State Department Archbishop Demetrios met with, among others:  Secretary of State Colin Powell; Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Marc Grossman; and Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Elizabeth Jones. 

At the White House, those who met with His Eminence included: Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Condoleezza Rice; Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Deputy National Security Advisor for Combating Terrorism Fran Townsend; Senior Advisor to the President Karl Rove; Special Assistant to the President and National Security Council Senior Director for European Affairs Dan Fried; National Security Council Director for Southern European Affairs Bert Braun; and National Security Council Director for Aegean Affairs Matt Bryza.   Archbishop Demetrios also met at the White House the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, Senator Bill Frist (R-TN), and the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Dennis Hastert (R-IL).

Archbishop Demetrios also held strategy sessions on Capitol Hill with Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) and over lunch with the Ambassador of Greece to the United States George Savvaides.

From the meetings held at the White House and the Senate.(From left to right)

Father Alex Karloutsos, Head of Government Relations for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, Andrew A. Athens, SAE President and Chairman of CEH, Frank Manios, AHEPA Supreme President, Senator Paul Sarbanes, Archbishop Demetrios, Michael Jaharis, President of the Archdiocesan Council of America, Andrew Manatos, President of CEH.