U.S.-GREECE RELATIONS STRENGTHENED, NEW RELATIONSHIPS FORGED

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 15, 2005--Senior government officials and major companies from the U.S. and Greece came together in Washington, D.C. this week for the Fourth Annual HAHC Business Conference on Greece-U.S. Relations. Some of those who played an active role in this conference, April 11-12, included: U.S. Director of National Intelligence-designate John Negroponte, Undersecretary of State (and former U.S. Ambassador to Greece) Nicholas Burns, and the new U.S. Ambassador to Greece Charles Ries; Greece's Minister of Public Order George Voulgarakis and Deputy Minister of Finance Petros Doukas; as well as House Commerce Subcommittee Chairman, Congressman Cliff Stearns, House International Relations Committee Subcommittee Chair, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and Senator Paul Sarbanes, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Ranking Democrat on the Banking Committee.

This conference was hosted by the Hellenic-American Heritage Council (HAHC), an organization of some of the largest and most powerful U.S. companies doing business in Greece. HAHC members are dedicated to building stronger U.S.-Greece ties through the promotion of commercial, cultural and defense relations. HAHC's Chairman of the Board is former Cabinet Member, former Undersecretary of State and former Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Edward Derwinski. The theme of the Fourth Annual conference was "The New Greece -- Business, Investment and Tourism following Olympic Success." The World Council of Hellenes (SAE) was a co-host of this conference, while the U.S. Chamber of Commerce was a co-sponsor.

U.S. Ambassador to Greece Ries (arriving at his post just 3 months ago) flew back from Greece to participate in this important conference. Ambassador Ries was joined in these meetings by his counterpart, Greece's Ambassador to the U.S. George Savvaides, as well as three former U.S. Ambassadors to Greece -- Robert Keeley, Michael Sotirhos, and Nick Burns -- and one former Greek Ambassador to the U.S. -- Loucas Tsilas.

White House participation included Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Deputy National Security Advisor for Combating Terrorism Frances Townsend, and National Security Council Director for Aegean Affairs, Matthew Bryza.

Major U.S. companies and organizations who played a significant role these important meetings included: Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Coca-Cola, Technical Olympic USA, General Dynamics, General Electric, SAIC, Atlantic Bank, Motorola, the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), the American-Hellenic Tour Operators Association, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the Onassis Foundation, the Harvard Center for Hellenic Studies, Alex G. Spanos, Chairman of the U.S.-Greece Business Council, and the Greek Association for Atlantic & European Cooperation. Major Greek companies who played a major role included: Aegean Marine Petroleum, the National Bank of Greece, and Hellenic Aerospace Industry, among others.