It is a special pleasure and honor for me to be with you today at an event in honor of Mr. Ted Deutsch, CEO of the American Jewish Committee, a visionary realist and therefore philhellene politician of the United States of America, who, after presiding over his meeting as Congressman from the Greek Israeli union, today he promotes this very union as CEO of the American Jewish Committee and is always ready to expand our knowledge on the influence of the Greek diaspora.

Energy security, the fight against terrorism, good neighborly relations through respect for international law, and economic cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean are issues of serious interest to Greece and the United States, especially today, when the barbaric Russian invasion of Ukraine is developing dramatically, stability in the Eastern Mediterranean becomes even more important. . But why I said that he is a realist, therefore a philhellene, I did not pun, it is literally.

As a country in the Western world, NATO and the European Union, Greece is recognized as a critical factor in stability, security and security in the wider region and currently enjoys the closest and most productive relationship it has ever had with the US. . In the meantime, let me quote from the U.S.-Greek Defense and Inter-Parliamentary Partnership Act of 2021.

“It is the view of Congress that…

1. Greece is a pillar of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean region, and the United States must continue to support its security and prosperity.

2. The 3+1 form of cooperation between Cyprus, Greece, Israel and the United States has become a successful forum for energy cooperation and should be expanded to include other areas of common interest to members.”

Despite this, in recent years we have experienced an incredible escalation of Turkey’s aggressive rhetoric and behavior. To this we oppose our powerful Armed Forces, international law and our alliances. We also oppose the oath we took in our Constitution to protect the country from external danger or threat to national security, and in the same context, again relying on the Constitution, we take care “of expressing all the forces of universal Hellenism” (Art. 108 Comp.).

But even before the current Constitution, and before we became a free state, Diaspora Hellenism played a decisive role. In the “History of the Greek Nation” of the Athenian Publishing House we read:

“In earlier periods of the history of the modern Greek diaspora (especially during the period of Turkish rule), the role of Greek communities abroad in solving key national issues was very important, and at one time even leading. This tradition continued even after the establishment of the Greek state and is emphasized in the support – material and moral, individual and collective – that the expatriates were quick to give to the Greek homeland in almost all critical circumstances for their people. In a number of cases (as, for example, in the Greco-Turkish war of 1897, in the Balkan wars of 1912-1913, in the Asia Minor campaign of 1919-1922 and in the Greco-Italian war of 1940-1941), expatriates enlisted as volunteers into the Greek army, considering the military efforts of Greece as a matter of common Hellenism.

Consequently, Greece’s relationship with its diaspora is existential. This does not mean that these relations, especially with the Greeks in the US, cannot be better organized in view of the current challenges. That is why your presence here at today’s event takes on special significance.

Two months ago, we received reports around the world about the sixtieth anniversary since the Cuban Missile Crisis. I want our friends from America to know one detail. The then Soviet ambassador in Athens, Nikolai Koryukin, demanded from the Greek government at the end of October 1962, when the crisis reached its peak and humanity held its breath, that Greece not express support for the United States and its blockade of Cuba. because otherwise Greece will take on a greater responsibility in the face of the threat of a conflict that will not leave her unscathed or unaffected. The Greek government ignored the threats of the Soviet Union, supported the United States morally and politically, and in early December 1962, exactly sixty years later, Greek Foreign Minister Evangelos Averof-Tositsas, invited by von Brentano, then West German Foreign Minister, spoke at the Foreign Policy Association December 1, 1962 in Bonn, said:

“Greece today is watching the conflict between the two worlds with great attention and, I must add, with great concern. He knows that he will be one of the first to feel the consequences of any escalation at the current stage of this conflict. The policy of Greece will continue to be a loyal member of NATO, as well as constant efforts to maintain and develop good relations with all countries without exception. If the great moment comes, I can assure you that Greece would rather die with hope and honor than lose the chance of survival as a free country.”

That is why Greece is reliable and stable. That is why every Philhellene is astute and realistic.

*Excerpt from House Speaker Konstantinos A. Thassoulas at an event hosted by K, HALC, and the Delphi Economic Forum in honor of the new head of the American Jewish Committee, Ted Deutsch.