Op-Ed: Obama: “…A Duty to Do What’s Right.” Will He?WASHINGTON, DC — The following Op-Ed by AHI Executive Director Nick Larigakis appeared in The National Herald 5-17-10, The Hellenic Voice 5-21-10, The Greek Star5-22-10 and the Greek News 5-25-10. Obama: “…A Duty to Do What’s Right.” Will He? by Nick Larigakis On March 9 President Obama hosted a celebration at the White House in honor of Greek Independence Day. In addition to PM George Papandreou, and Archbishop Demetrios, the East Room was filled with some of the most prominent members of the Greek and Cypriot American communities and notables from the diplomatic community, Capitol Hill, State Department, and the Church. The President invoked the usual courtesies, but also made some very specific and poignant comments that should not be merely relegated to the annals of Washington political rhetoric. He referred to that one special word that, by all accounts, is unique to only the Greek lexicon—“Philotimo.” He defined it as“…a sense of right and wrong and a duty to do what’s right.” He spoke of the historic relationship that exists between Greece and the U.S.: “Greek Americans, in turn, served and fought to preserve our Union. And through two world wars and a long Cold War, America stood with our Greek allies and friends.” The President also acknowledged the numerous contributions of Greece today.
These comments underscored what we in the community already know—That Greece is a loyal and reliable ally of the U.S. and that she takes her NATO commitments and obligations very seriously. And while previous administration’s were aware of Greece’s contributions, they always failed to do “what’s right” by supporting Greece when she has been provoked and threatened by her neighbors. So, will President Obama have the “Philotimo” and feel the “Duty to do What’s Right”, as Greece has done for over a century? “What’s right” is also good for U.S. interests and sends a message to the world that the U.S. does not compromise its principles, such as the rule of law, support for international law and the codes and declarations of international institutions such as the UN and NATO. The projection of U.S. interests in the southeastern Mediterranean depends on the stability of the region. Therefore the U.S. has an important stake in fostering good relations between two NATO allies, Greece and Turkey, in achieving a just and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem, and resolving the Macedonia name issue. However, Turkey’s continuing occupation and intransigence regarding Cyprus, its continuous violations of Greece’s territorial waters and airspace, its violations of religious and human rights, especially with respect to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, coupled with the actions of the intransigent and provocative government in FYROM, and its failure to negotiate in good faith over the name issue, foster instability and damage U.S. interests. And as it relates to Greece’s current economic crisis, it is estimated that it costs Greece approximately a half billion Euros a year for all the times that the Greek Air force has to scramble its planes to respond to violations of its airspace by Turkish fighter jets. President Obama has the “duty to do what’s right” toward our faithful ally Greece, and our good friend, Cyprus, by asking Turkey to:
Further, the President must strongly persuade the government of FYROM to negotiate in good faith with Greece to resolve the name issue and to cease their irredentist propaganda against Greece. If his comments are not destined to be added to the large catalog of great but empty rhetoric in Washington, the question still remains. Will he?
### For additional information, please contact C. Franciscos Economides at (202) 785-8430 or at [email protected]. For general information about the activities of AHI, please see our website at https://www.ahiworld.org |
|
Op-Ed: Obama: “…A Duty to Do What’s Right.” Will He?
|