wfn.org | President Obama Hosts Archbishop Demetrios and Prime Minister Papandreou

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA

8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10075-0106 * Tel: (212) 570-3530 Fax:
(212) 774-0237
www.goarch.org    - Email: communications@goarch.org

> Contact: PRESS OFFICE
> Stavros Papagermanos
> pressoffice@goarch.org

> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> March 10, 2010

PRESIDENT OBAMA HOSTS ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS, PRIME MINISTER PAPANDREOU
FOR MARCH 25 CELEBRATION AT THE WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON ? The White House hosted yesterday afternoon the Annual
Greek Independence Day Celebration for the 24th consecutive year
honoring the 189th Anniversary of the start of the Greek War for
Independence of March 25th, 1821. This year?s celebration was
scheduled earlier than the actual anniversary because the President
will be traveling to Asia after March 18.

This year?s celebration coincided with the official visit to
Washington of the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic Mr. George
Papandreou.

President Barack Obama received Archbishop Demetrios of America
representing the Greek-American Orthodox community and Prime Minister
Papandreou in private, just prior to the public event, which started
at 5:30 p.m.

For the first time in the history of this White House celebration, the
First Lady Michelle Obama attended the gathering.

Mr. Papandreou, who earlier in the day had an official meeting with
President Obama, was the first to address the more than 350 guests in
the East Room of the White House. In his comments, the Prime Minister
praised Archbishop Demetrios ?for his commitment and his very
important work as the spiritual leader of the Greek Americans.? Mr.
Papandreou also acknowledged the contributions of the Omogeneia: ?The
Greek American Community is a lasting link between our two countries.
We are proud, and I am part of this Community, we are proud of their
accomplishments in academia, in business, in culture and politics.
They contribute much to the United States and they are always a source
of innovation and strength as they bring their ideas and aspirations
to Greece when they visit our country.?

Archbishop Demetrios began by thanking President Obama for his
?commitment to pursue what St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians
describes as whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is
just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, and whatever is gracious
(Phil. 4:8),? and said that it was in the spirit of those words of St.
Paul that we experience this celebration.

His Eminence said that we pay homage to those who fought the Greek War
of Independence and ?we honor their universal legacy for freedom,
democracy and independence,? he said the heroes of 1821 succeeded
because they had ?Souls filled with unwavering faith, hearts filled
with enormous courage, and minds shining with brilliance??

The Archbishop asked the President?s assistance on the issues of
interest to the Greek American Orthodox Community and said: ?We are
gratefully aware of and we are with you in your persistence and
commitment to promote globally those absolute values, especially in
the sensitive areas of the Far, the Middle and the Near East Asia.
We thankfully noted that in the first year of your Presidency, you
have repeatedly shown your specific advocacy of the same values in the
case of our Ecumenical Patriarchate, strongly defending its God-given
right to religious freedom.   We rely on your continued and dynamic
support until, with the help of the omnipotent God, the expected good
results are obtained.   We also repeat our plea expressed to you in
last year?s celebration, for your needed intervention in the still
pending issues of the unification of Cyprus, and of the appropriate
name for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.   Our plea for
these issues is accompanied by our warm prayers for the leaders and
people of Greece, the land which gave Democracy and universal values
to the world.? (see full text of His Eminence?s remarks)

President Barack Obama spoke last, in a warm and upbeat atmosphere,
highlighted by the previous speakers and an earlier announcement from
the Department of Homeland Security about the designation of Greece as
a member of the Visa Waiver Program.  The President in his remarks
noted how fitting it was to have Mr. Papandreou present in this year?s
Greek Independence Day celebration, thanked and praised Archbishop
Demetrios, and acknowledged the contributions of the Greek American
Community and its leaders. The President said that on March 25 we?ll
not only celebrate a singular moment in time, we?ll be reminded of the
spirit that has defined Greece and its people for all time. There?s a
concept that captures it, and it doesn?t translate easily; it doesn?t
really have an equivalent in English. But it?s a virtue that all of
you know well, because it?s the very essence of being Greek ? and you
will forgive if my pronunciation is just so-so ? philotimo. Right?
Philotimo.  Literally, it translates as ?love of honor.?  I love that
concept ? love of honor. But, of course, it means much more than
that.? (see full text of the President?s remarks)

At the conclusion of the program President Obama greeted many of the
attendees including Metropolitans Iakovos of Chicago, Methodios of
Boston, Evangelos of New Jersey, Bishop Savas of Troas, members of the
Greek government, diplomats, numerous members of Congress present at
the event and Alexi Giannoulias who is running for the U.S. Senate
seat in Illinois.

Later in the evening Archbishop Demetrios along with Prime Minister
Papandreou attended a working dinner with the participation of other
Greek government ministers and a small number of Greek American
business leaders. A series of opinions and ideas were exchanged about
resolving the present financial crisis in Greece and creating the
proper conditions for investment in Greece by Greek American businesses.

The previous night the Chief of Protocol of the United States
Ambassador Capricia Penavic Marshall hosted a dinner at the historic
Blair House, in honor of Archbishop Demetrios and the anniversary of
Greek Independence Day.

To see the full text of the Archbishop?s remarks go to:
http://www.goarch.org/news/ad-remarksatwhitehouse-0309-2010

To see photos of the White House reception go to:
http://photos.goarch.org/main.php?g2_itemId=11

For a transcript of the President?s Remarks go to:
http://www.goarch.org/news/presidentobamaremarks-03-09-2010

> == 30 ==