Andreas Farmakalidis, a longtime Los Angeles resident, and member of the AHC announced recently his intention to run for Los Angeles Unified School District Board in District 3, comprising of several areas in the San Fernando Valley.. The AHC is proud for Andreas’ venture into public life and urges its members who vote in the […]

The American Hellenic Council is pleased to announce its 2024 New Year’s Gala! Get tickets today and join us in celebrating Hellenism in the New Year.

Greek Independence Day On behalf of the American Hellenic Council, I would like to pay tribute to the 202nd Anniversary of Greek Independence Day! March 25th is known to all Greek Orthodox Christians as the commemoration of the Annunciation of the Theotokos! It also marks the beginning of the Greek War of Independence! On this […]

“National Day of Remembrance” of the terrorist attack on 9/11 We must never forget the great tragedy suffered on this day 21 years ago when terrorists hijackers flew planes into the World Trade Center. This dark day in American history witnessed almost 3000 people killed that included the destruction of the historic St. Nicholas Greek […]

Commemorating the 1955 Pogrom – The Istanbul Riots of September 6 – 7 On behalf of the Hellenic American Council, we are committed to supporting and participating in the Commemoration of the September 6-7 1955 Pogrom. This historical tragedy is most important and we must never forget.  We cannot be silent regarding the horrific events […]

Commemorating the 4th of July on behalf of the American Hellenic Council We are uniquely honored on this 4th of July to celebrate our 200 years of friendship through World Wars, conflicts, threats, and a sense of common purpose and unity that has united our nations through two centuries!  The “Age of Pericles” had a […]

Happy Greek Independence Day! ZHTO ELLAS! On behalf of the American Hellenic Council I would like to wish all Hellenes and Philhellenes a Happy 201st Anniversary of Greek Independence Day! Ending 400 years of Ottoman rule, Greece rose up on this important day in history.  With the cry of “Eleftheria”, Freedom to end slavery, the […]

House Set to Introduce Pappas’ Oxi Day Resolution U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH) plans to introduce a bipartisan-backed congressional resolution to honor Greece’s resistance to Axis Powers in World War II. “In honor of the Greek’s refusal to submit to fascism, and their integral role in the eventual downfall of the Axis powers, we invite […]

The American Hellenic Council is proud to join with the International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA); the American Hellenic Institute (AHI); and the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) to commend Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-Nv) & members of the Congressional Caucus for introducing Amendment #579 into FY22 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) […]

20 years ago our nation faced one of its darkest days in history! September 11th remains in our hearts and our memories. It remains a day we will remember forever. We commemorate the brave responders that gave their lives for others to live!  In honor of this day, the only church in the area of […]

As we commemorate another tragic event, we must not forget the 99th Anniversary of the Catastrophe of Smyrna on September 10th, 1922.  On this day, the world witnessed the first genocide of the 20th Century when Turkish troops entered the beautiful port of Smyrna and proceeded to burn down the Greek & Armenian quarters of […]

On behalf of the American Hellenic Council, I would like to thank Mayor of Los Angeles, Mr. Eric Garcetti, and the City Council for the Official Commemoration of the Bicentennial of Greek Independence on the evening of March 25th.  In a spectacular demonstration, the Los Angeles City Hall and fountains were all lit up in […]

Days before the 200th Anniversary of Greek Independence, members of the Greek American community in Los Angeles began efforts to light Los Angeles City Hall in blue and white in commemoration of Greece’s Bicentennial. President of AHC, Jim Dimitriou approached Jim Birakos, a knowledgable city government executive, who was the Dep. Executive Officer of the Los Angeles […]

The auspicious occasion of the 200-Year Anniversary of Greece’s war of independence was celebrated by our leaders and in cities across the globe. President Katerina Sakellaropoulou sent a message of gratitude to the Greek Diaspora, whose, “…self-denial and selfless contribution contributed to the awakening of the Greek national conscience and to the preparation of the […]

US-Greek relations are the best they’ve been in modern history. Our friendship began during Greece’s war for independence and Greece’s 2021 bicentennial is an opportunity to celebrate this history and the values of liberty and democracy our peoples have defended for over 200 years. —Geoffrey Pyatt, US Ambassador to Greece It is with great pride […]

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.),Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was joined by Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) in introducing a bipartisan Senate resolution commemorating the 200thanniversary of Greek Independence Day, March 25, 2021. The bipartisan resolution celebrates the commitment to democracy that Greece and the United States share as well as the two nations’ lasting […]

An article from the archives, written in the Spring of 1974 for “Today’s World” before the invasion of Cyprus, written by AHC President, Dr. James F. Dimitriou when he was still a graduate student. The following historical article was published in “Today’s World” magazine in 1974. This is an historical look at Cyprus that Professors […]

Statement of the President of the American Hellenic Council on the violent insurrection that took place on January 6, 2021 in the US Capitol: At a time of great stress we must condemn the insurrection by the rioters in the U.S. Capitol yesterday. Our great nation was built on the foundation of democracy and respect […]

The American Hellenic Council sends best wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year!  Words from our Board Members, On behalf of the Board of Directors of the American Hellenic Council I would like to extend our wishes for a Happy New Year with the hope of a brighter tomorrow! I wanted to wish all of […]

Dear Friends, On behalf of the American Hellenic Council, I would like to wish you Καλά Χριστούγεννα & a Happy New Year! It has been a very challenging year for all and I hope you continue to be safe. We share the hope that the continued cooperation with the members of the Hellenic Caucus and […]

On behalf of the American Hellenic Council, we would like to commend the Administration for their long awaited decision to impose sanctions on the Republic of Turkey. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo announced the decision to impose sanctions pursuant to Turkey‘s violation of the “Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).” This is in direct […]

A great loss and an irreplaceable void in the great fight for Hellenism has been dealt to us with the passing of the former Maryland Senator, Paul Sarbanes, said Ioannis Chryssoulakis, the Secretary-General for Public Diplomacy and the Greeks Abroad. His brave stance and timeless political position on Greece, as he defended with insistence on […]

As a true statesmen and champion of justice, truth and courage, Senator Paul Sarbanes always will be remembered for the values we continue to cherish as Hellenic Americans. Paul Sarbanes was an inspirational leader in Congress and advocated within the Senate to bring justice for Cyprus and promote strong relations between the United States, Greece […]

Dear friends and members of the American Hellenic Council, On behalf of the American Hellenic Council, I would like to take this time to wish everyone a Happy & Safe Thanksgiving weekend. We are optimistic that we all will be safe and careful in these times and hold the belief that hope will prevail in […]

We have seen an exponential increase in activities in the Eastern Mediterranean that have caused upheaval in the region and in the international community. Erdogan’s aggression in the Mediterranean, the UAE and Israel signing an agreement, Iran’s precariousness, and it seems like at the center of it is energy. John Defterios, CNN Business’ Emerging Markets […]

The American Hellenic Council strongly condemns the actions of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to unilaterally convert Hagia Sophia from a museum and UNESCO World Heritage into a mosque. This is a blatant violation of the UNESCO treaty of 1985 and of Mustafa Kemal Attaturk’s conversion of Hagia Sophia into a museum in 1934. It […]

never forget Dear friends and supporters, As we are all facing such troubling times, we must take time to remember the fateful events of July 20, 1974. On that day some 46 years ago, Turkey launched “Operation Attila” and began a full fledged air, sea and infantry invasion of the Republic of Cyprus.  A flotilla […]

June 10, 2020 Greece and Italy sign agreement for delimitation of maritime zones Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, and his Italian counterpart, Luigi Di Maio, signed a historic agreement on the delimitation of the maritime zones between Greece and Italy in Athens, on Tuesday, June 9, 2020. Read their statements here. “Τogether we have […]

Dear Friends and Supporters, I am reaching out to our community, for the third time in such a short period, to extend my heartfelt support to all members, friends and family of the American Hellenic Council and to all those enduring the difficulties of the past three months.   In the beginning, we experienced, and […]

Geopolitical Volatility & Stability in the Eastern Mediterranean Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou, faculty member of Tufts University’s, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and Director of the Fletcher Initiative on Religion, Law and Diplomacy speaks on the 567th anniversary of the Fall of Constantinople. This auspicious day, as she puts it, brings to light the modern […]

The members of the American Hellenic Council are deeply saddened to hear of the news of the passing of a true patriot and leader of the Hellenic American Community, Eugene T. Rossides. On behalf of the American Hellenic Council, I would like to pay tribute to Eugene T. Rossides, the founder of the American Hellenic […]

Dear Friends and Supporters of the American Hellenic Council,   As we all try to adjust our lives to this new reality, I wanted to touch base with our AHC family and friends.   The American Hellenic Council’s Board of Directors and I want to reiterate our commitment to the members of our community during […]

May 4, 2020 Prime Μinister Mitsotakis’ particiaption in the Donors’ video-conference for Coronavirus vaccine, during the Coronavirus Global Response Summit: PM Mitsotakis announced that Greece would offer 3 million euros to support the work of the World Health Organization and the scientific community in the fight against Coronavirus. He also pointed out that “the vaccine should be […]

May 4, 2020 Main Points from Prime Minister Mitsotakis’ interview on CNN: Greece, thanks to a successful early lock down, now is reopening its economy. Greece is dependent on tourism but not more than other southern European countries. Greece will be ready for the summer holiday season. We hope the worse is behind us and […]

The General Secretariat for Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released two video under a project entitled, “Staying at Home, Traveling through Literature: Diplomats recite Greek Literature”. This initiative aims at sending out a message of international solidarity in the fight against the global threat of COVID-19 pandemic and encouraging us all to […]

Mike Manatos, President of Manatos & Manatos, speaks to the AHC about the evolution of Hellenic advocacy in the United States. With three generations of Manatos’s serving in or working with the Federal government and over 85 years of accumulated knowledge, Mr. Manatos and his father, Andy Manatos, play an integral role in advocating for […]

American Hellenic Council Executive Director, Christianna Kontou, interviewed newly appointed Ambassador of Greece to the United States, Mrs. Alexandra Papadopoulou, introducing her to the members of the Greek American diaspora. Ambassador Papadopoulou addresses Greece’s response to the Coronavirus and Turkey’s aggression in the northern borders near Evros and projections for the future of Greece – […]

National Address from Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on April 13, 2020 My fellow citizens, Thirty-three days have gone by since my first addresses about the pandemic. I then set a one clear goal: To curb the spread of Coronavirus in the country, while also enduring personal sacrifices. And you made these sacrifices, with a high […]

Τhe General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Children’s Art Gallery of Greece in collaboration with the Greek Section of International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) – the Circle of the Greek Children’s Book, are organizing an International Student Painting Competition for the Greek Diaspora, titled […]

Message from Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to the Greek Diaspora in the United States of America regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic   My compatriots in America,   Greece is entering its second month of emergency measures imposed by the pandemic. Together with the illegal immigrant invasion at our border, we also faced the attach from this […]

On Monday, March 30, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis appeals to members of the New Democracy party, from Members of Parliament to Ministers and Deputy Ministers, to donate 50% of their salary to a COVID-19 relief fund for the next two months. Following this appeal, Greek government officials have started committing to donating half of […]

On March 20, American Hellenic Council (AHC) leadership invited U. S. Ambassador to Greece, Geoffrey Pyatt, to participate in a conversation about the latest developments in the U.S.-Greek bilateral relationship.  In a wide-ranging discussion, Ambassador Pyatt highlighted the strength of the U.S.-Greece relationship and commended Greece’s handling of difficulties it currently faces on two fronts: the […]

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ televised address to the nation: a message of hope, strength, unity, and perseverance on Greek Independence Day Our national holiday, this year, finds our country in an unprecedented state. We are not celebrating on the streets and town squares. But we are honoring it from our homes. With our flags waving […]

Message   From the President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou To the Greeks abroad, on the occasion of Greek Independence Day of March 25th   My dear compatriots, Greek women and Greek men abroad,   It is with great pleasure that I address you today, the Greeks abroad, for the first time since the […]

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ televised address to the nation, on Sunday, March 22nd, as he announces the nation’s most restrictive measures yet.  My fellow citizens, Just a few moments ago, I instructed the relevant ministers to proceed with the necessary actions, so that as of 6 AM on Monday, March 23rd, so from tomorrow, a […]

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ televised address to the nation, on Thursday, March 19th – his third in a week – on the government’s response to the coronavirus and the measures to boost the economy. My fellow citizens, We communicate once again, as I promised you, with new information on the health front and the state […]

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ televised address to the nation, on Tuesday, March 17th – his second in a week – on the spread of the coronavirus. My fellow citizens, I am addressing you once more – a second time in just a few days – in regards to the threat of the coronavirus. Because as […]

Dear Friends and Supporters of the American Hellenic Council,   As part of the American Hellenic Council family, I wanted to reach out to you personally regarding the current state of affairs that we are all facing. Your safety and well-being are of utmost concern to us all. We want our entire community to remain […]

Due to the recent developments with COVID-19 and following Governor Newsom’s recommendation, the American Hellenic Council will be postponing the 46th Annual Awards Gala set for Saturday, March 28th. We hope to secure a new date soon. From the comfort of your own home, you can tune in and watch as we highlight the accomplishments of our award winners […]

The New York Times published an article titled We Are Like Animals’: Inside Greece’s Secret Site for Migrants, wrongly claiming that Greece is operating a “blacksite” on its border with Turkey, as Turkey’s President Erdogan continues to weaponize migrants in a deliberate effort to destabilize Greece and blackmail the EU. Congressman Gus Bilirakis, co-chair of the Hellenic Caucus and […]

Dear friends Dear fellow Greeks   This month, I submitted my credentials to President Trump assuming the post of Ambassador of Greece to the U.S. I know the country; I know the burden of responsibility. Today, Greek – American relations are at their best. The aim, however, is to make this relation even closer, to […]

For over forty years, the American Hellenic Institute has been fighting to uphold the rule of law in matters of U.S. foreign policy, particularly in our nation’s dealings with Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey. Today, we spoke with Mr. Nick Larigakis, President of the AHI, who gave us his take on the current state of affairs […]

The American Hellenic Council’s second Young Professional Meet Up will take place on Monday, March 2 at City Club Los Angeles starting at 5 PM. More details on the Facebook event here. Over twenty young professionals from the Los Angeles Greek American community joined us to network and enjoy City Club Los Angeles’s fantastic views! […]

Presented by The American Jewish Committee Los Angeles, The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, and USC Center on Public Diplomacy with the American Hellenic Council of California and The Hellenic American Leadership Council Despite striking historical similarities among their peoples, Israel, Cyprus and Greece experienced mostly unfriendly relations for almost 60 years. This situation […]

Congressman Gus Bilirakis, Co-Chair of the Hellenic Caucus and the Congressional Hellenic – Israel Alliance, visiting California the first weekend of February and met with members of the American Hellenic Council. On Saturday, February 1st, the Congressman met with the AHC Board of Directors and discussed at length the importance of the passing of the […]

One of the American Hellenic Council’s first board members, Mr. Gilbert J. Kyprianou, passed away in December. The AHC family grieves his loss and celebrates his many contributions to Hellenism. Gilbert was very active in the Greek American community. He was a founding board member of the original Save Cyprus Council, now the American Hellenic […]

Special event hosting Benny Morris, co-author of “The Thirty-Year Genocide: Turkey’s Destruction of its Christian Minorities” The American Hellenic Council, The Philos Project, the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region and the Assyrian American Association of Southern California, co-hosted an evening discussion with historian Benny Morris. Robert Nicholson of The Philos Project asked […]

On December 20, 2019 The Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership was signed into law by President Trump. The bill was co-authored in the Senate by Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Mark Rubio (R-FL) as SB 1102, while in the House, H.R. 2913 was sponsored by Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and David Cicilline (D-RI). In the findings, […]

AHC Meet & Greet with Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH) The American Hellenic Council of California is hosting a Meet & Greet with Congressman Chris Pappas on Sunday, December 8th at 6 PM at AHC's offices in Culver City. Congressman Pappas, currently serving his first term, is one of the five Greek Americans currently serving in [...]

U.S. House Votes Overwhelmingly to Lock in Armenian Genocide Recognition, Rejecting Turkey’s Denial of This Crime WASHINGTON, DC – In a major blow to Ankara’s obstruction of justice for the Armenian Genocide, the U.S. House today voted overwhelmingly to pass H.Res.296, an Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) – backed measure locking in ongoing U.S. [...]

AHC Joins ANCA in protesting the Turkish attack on Northern Syria and the invasion of Cyprus’ EEZ On October 13, 2019, hundreds of people joined in condemning Turkey’s latest acts of aggression. Speakers from ANCA-WR and AHC, as well as, local Armenian and Jewish youth organizations, addressed the crowd. The protest in the news: Fox [...]

#bOObs for Life is a compilation of visually portrayed stories about physical trauma, personal struggle, survival, and the celebration of life. The exhibition is the fruit of the collaborative work of photographer Sylvia Kouveli and artist Ted Meyer, presented with the support with the American Cancer Society. In order to truly know our own body, love and accept it, we […]

President Donald Trump’s decision to remove US military support from Northeastern Syria jeopardizes, not only one of America’s greatest allies in the fight against ISIS, but also jeopardizes Greek and Cypriot sovereignty. As Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Turkey mounts an attack against U.S.-allied Kurdish forces in Syria, there are simultaneously an approximate 20 Turkish Naval encircling […]

AHC meets with Governor of Region of Central Macedonia, Apostolos Tzitzikostas The American Hellenic Council of California welcomed the Governor of the Region of Central Macedonia, Mr. Apostolos Tzitzikostas accompanied by a delegation that included the Executive Secretary of the Region, Mr. Nikolaos Ioannou, the President of the Thessaloniki International Fair, Mr. Anastasios Tzikas and [...]

The American Hellenic Council of California and the Armenian National Committee of America–Western Region signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation during a special ceremony on Monday, September 30, 2019, signaling a new chapter of even deeper and more institutionalized relations between the two organizations. The ceremony took place at the ANCA-WR headquarters in Glendale, [...]

On Saturday, October 6th, members of the American Hellenic Council had the pleasure and privilege of welcoming Ms. Evgenia Beniatoglou to Los Angeles as the New Consul General of Greece. American Hellenic Council Executive Director, Ioannis Fidanakis, spoke with her about her new post and what is to come. Read interview  

AHC welcomes New Greek Consul General to Los Angeles Los Angeles, California – On Saturday, October 6th, members of the American Hellenic Council had the pleasure and privilege of welcoming Ms. Evgenia Beniatoglou to Los Angeles as the New Consul General of Greece. Ms. Beniatoglou, who hails from Drama, replaces the honorable Gregory Karahalios after [...]

Dr. James Dimitriou elected as new President of the American Hellenic Council Los Angeles, CA – The Board of Directors of the American Hellenic Council, the leading Greek-American advocacy organization in the Western United States, elected Dr. James Dimitriou of Redondo Beach, California, as their new President and Chairman of the Board on September 1st, [...]

Director of the Basil P. Caloyeras Center Retires Los Angeles, California – On Saturday, May 19, 2018, Professor Demetrios Liappas celebrated his retirement from the directorship of the Basil P. Caloyeras Center for Modern Greek Studies at Loyola Marymount University.  At an elegant reception in a room with a breath-taking view of the Pacific Ocean [...]

In September 2017, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, traveled to Greece, just prior to her official trip to Armenia with Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ). American Hellenic Council Executive Director, Ioannis Fidanakis, spoke with her about her experience.   In the past few years, there have been historic levels […]

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard Visits Greece Los Angeles, CA – Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, traveled to Greece in September, just prior to her official trip to Armenia with Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ). While in Greece, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard met with Greek Government officials and religious leaders, organized by [...]