The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (Order of AHEPA), the American Hellenic Institute (AHI), B’nai B’rith International, and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations issued the following statement:

Our organizations are pleased the much anticipated Eastern Mediterranean pipeline received its final green light with the approval of the Israeli government. The cooperation amongst Israel, Greece, Cyprus, plus Italy, will help Europe to diversify its energy supply.  The approval demonstrates the strengthening of ties and the significant progress the trilateral alliance has achieved in energy cooperation and the three countries’ leadership in the region to provide energy security, which our groups wholeheartedly welcome.

Separately, we welcome as another positive indicator that bilateral relations between Greece and Israel in defense and security cooperation continues to grow. This month, the Hellenic Parliament ratified a defense agreement with Israel, and the heads of Greek and Israeli militaries met to discuss deepening ties.

We look forward to the next trilateral summit to be held in Nicosia, Cyprus, as announced following June’s meeting between the foreign ministers of Israel and Cyprus.

Finally, we are pleased to see legislative measures advancing through Congress that encourages and bolsters U.S. engagement with the Eastern Mediterranean partnership between Israel, Greece, and Cyprus, and we anticipate their passage.

We applaud the commitment to fostering peace, security, stability, and shared democratic values and ideals, in the region by all parties.  We are pleased the relationship continues to progress across all sectors. We will continue to lend our broad diaspora support and encouragement for advancing the trilateral partnership and the United States’ commitment to it.

Background

AHEPA, AHI, B’nai B’rith International, and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations completed their Fourth Biannual Leadership Mission to Israel, Cyprus, and Greece in January 2020. Their groundbreaking inaugural Leadership Mission to the three countries occurred in January 2014.  The missions have been widely recognized and praised as contributing to intergroup and international cooperation and friendship.

In December 2018, the organizations co-sponsored an international conference held in Jerusalem titled, “New Realities in the Eastern Mediterranean.”

In August 2011 and December 2012, they co-organized roundtable discussions in New York City between leaders of the American Jewish and American Hellenic communities.

# # #

Founded in 1922 in Atlanta, Georgia, on the principles that undergirded its fight for civil rights and against discrimination, bigotry, and hatred felt at the hands of the Ku Klux Klan, AHEPA is the largest and oldest grassroots association of American citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes with more than 400 chapters across the United States, Canada, and Europe. 

AHEPA’s mission is to promote the ancient Greek ideals of Education, Philanthropy, Civic Responsibility, and Family and Individual Excellence through community service and volunteerism. 

For more information, please visit www.ahepa.org.