In July 2025 in Athens, Greece, the American Hellenic Council (AHC) held a substantive and forward-looking meeting with senior officials of Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Mr. Ioannis Loverdos, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Harry Theoharis, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Mr. George Tsounakis, Director of the Deputy Minister’s Private Office.
The meeting focused on key strategic issues of mutual concern, including F-16 modernization, the protection of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and hydrocarbon exploration within Cyprus’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
AHC President Mr. Spiros Lazaris expressed his appreciation for the warm reception and the opportunity for constructive dialogue, emphasizing the organization’s ongoing commitment to deepening cooperation between the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Greek-American community.
“As a nonpartisan advocacy organization based in the United States, the American Hellenic Council works to promote and defend the interests of Greece, Cyprus, and the broader Hellenic diaspora through education, policy advocacy, and civic engagement,” said Spiros Lazaris. “Our discussion reaffirmed the importance of our shared efforts in advancing Greece’s strategic priorities.”
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During the meeting, both sides emphasized the value of continued coordination on the following priorities:
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Advancing Greece’s F-16 modernization and F-35 acquisition program
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Protecting the status, jurisdiction, and freedom of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
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Monitoring and supporting Greece’s and Cyprus’s sovereign rights in the hydrocarbon sector of the Cyprus EEZ
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The AHC also reiterated its readiness to mobilize its network of Greek-American leaders, strategic partners, and U.S. Congressional allies in support of these objectives. Broader topics discussed included regional diplomacy, energy security, defense cooperation, and diaspora engagement.
The American Hellenic Council looks forward to building upon this productive exchange and continuing its close collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in promoting shared democratic values, regional stability, and Hellenic interests worldwide.