R 237

2020 -- S 2872 Enacted 06/17/2020

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CELEBRATING MARCH 25, 2020, AS THE 199TH ANNIVERSARY OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY

Introduced By: Senators Raptakis, Euer, Lombardi, Gallo, and Conley

Date Introduced: June 16, 2020

WHEREAS, On March 25, 1821, the Feast Day of the Annunciation, the Greek nation

reclaimed its ancient heritage as the "Cradle of Democracy" by overthrowing the yoke of

oppression which had enslaved its people since the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Conquered by

the Ottoman Turks in the 15th century, Greece waged a successful war of Independence (1821-

1829) and re-instituted a democratic form of government; and

WHEREAS, The people of the United States generously offered humanitarian assistance

to the Greek people during their struggle for independence; and

WHEREAS, The price for Greece in holding onto our common values in their region was

high, as hundreds of thousands of civilians were killed in Greece during World War II; and

WHEREAS, Greece is one of only three nations in the world, beyond the former British

Empire, that has been allied with the United States in every major international conflict over the

last 100 years; and

WHEREAS, Greece, located in a region where Christianity meets Islam and Judaism,

maintains excellent relations with Muslim nations and Israel, and demonstrates religious

tolerance; and

WHEREAS, The Ancient Macedonians were Hellenes and the northern Province of

Greece, Macedonia, are their Hellenic descendants; and

WHEREAS, Greece and the United States are at the forefront of the effort for freedom,

democracy, peace, stability, and human rights; and

WHEREAS, Over the past few years, the United States has significantly increased its

engagement with Greece in the maritime sector. In partnership with the Greek shipping fleet, the

United States is helping Greece and all of Southeast Europe ensure energy independence; and

WHEREAS, March 25, 2020, Greek Independence Day, marks the 199th Anniversary of

the beginning of the revolution that freed the Greek people from the Ottoman Empire and

celebrates the aspirations for democracy and tolerance that the people of Greece and the United

States share; and

WHEREAS, United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Greece on October 4,

2019, where he met with Greek leaders and together they signed the Mutual Defense Cooperation

Agreement (MDCA); and

WHEREAS, In January of 2020, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the

United States and met with President Donald J. Trump, Vice President Michael Pence, Secretary

of State Mike Pompeo, and Congressional Leaders to enhance bilateral cooperation and discuss

issues related to trade, energy and mutual security; and

WHEREAS, Turkey has continued to destabilize the Aegean Sea and the Eastern

Mediterranean Sea region. As a result, Greece, Israel and Cyprus have formed a trilateral

cooperation agreement against the aggressive regional policies of Turkey. Each country's strong

relationship with the United States, as well as the prospect of an Eastern Mediterranean pipeline

enabling safe transmission of gas to Western Europe are critical to security and energy stability.

Passage of the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019 will facilitate

energy and security cooperation between the United States, Greece, Cyprus and Israel; and

WHEREAS, It is proper and desirable for the United States to celebrate this Anniversary

with the Greek people and to reaffirm the democratic principles from which these two great

nations were born; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby celebrates March 25, 2020, as the 199th Anniversary of Greek Independence, reaffirms

Rhode Island's abiding commitment to the magnificent principles of democracy and religious

freedom, and urges Turkey to respect the rights and religious freedoms of the Ecumenical

Patriarchate; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of

Cranston, the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of Pawtucket, the St. Spyridon Greek

Orthodox Church of Newport, members of the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, the

Honorable Stratos Efthymiou, Consul General of the Hellenic Republic in Boston, and



Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Archdiocese of America.

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LC005192

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