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Mission Statement

The American Hellenic Council is a non-partisan political advocacy organization. Our goal is to promote democracy, human rights, peace, and stability in Southern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, with an emphasis on Greece and Cyprus, by informing the American public and the government about on-going issues and conflicts in the area.

Serving Since 1974

Since its inception, the American Hellenic Council has been the focal point of political activities of Greek Americans in California. The AHC has become an effective and respected political lobbying group whose sole purpose is to advocate the U.S. Congress for the protection and promotion of Greek-American interests. During its existence, the American Hellenic Council has supported numerous Hellenic Issues, has made political donations, and raised significant contributions for members of Congress who support Hellenic Issues.

The American Hellenic Council Supports:

  • The security of Greece’s sovereign rights in the Aegean including natural resource exploration rights within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and creating awareness of Turkish violations of Greece’s airspace and territorial waters.
  • Freedom and sovereignty for the Republic of Cyprus and the immediate removal of Turkish occupation troops as well as the implementation of conditions on all military and economic aid to Turkey and economic sanctions against Turkey until it removes its troops and colonists from Cyprus and complies with the United States, United Nations, and international law.
  • Religious Rights and Freedoms for the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Greek minority in Turkey including the Reopening of the Halki Patriarchal School of Theology.
  • Recognition of the Greek, Armenian, and Assyrian Genocides.
  • Awareness and proper recognition of the destruction of Smyrna, the murder of over 1 million Greek civilians, and the expatriation of 1.5 million Greeks by Turkey in 1922.
  • Return of the Parthenon marbles to Greece.

Advocating the US Senate & the House of Representatives

Whenever any of the aforementioned issues come before the Senate or any Senate committee, the Council communicates with all Senators and/or Senate committee members of our position on these issues. After each vote, we convey to all voting Senators our gratitude or disappointment regarding their votes.

The Hellenic Caucus & the Congressional Hellenic - Israel Alliance

We encourage all members of the Congressional delegation from California to join the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues. In 1996, Representative Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) and former Representative Michael Bilirakis (R-FL) formed the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues to foster and improve relations between the United States and Greece. Members of the Caucus introduce legislation, arrange briefings on current events, and disseminate information on topics such as U.S. aid to Greece and Cyprus, the division and ongoing occupation of Cyprus, U.S. relations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the status of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and developments in the Aegean. We are proud that 60 percent of the members of the CA Congressional delegation are currently active members of the Hellenic Caucus. In 2013, the Congressional Hellenic-Israel Alliance (CHIA) was founded, which seeks to promote and facilitate regional collaboration, among other things.