San Francisco, Calif.- At the annual convention of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), the organization’s public policy committee presented its report which was adopted by the convention body, July 3, 2015, and included two clauses on Greece’s debt crisis and July 5 referendum:

“[The AHEPA Cyprus & Hellenic Affairs Committee] Echoes the statement issued by Supreme President Phillip Frangos on current developments with Greece’s debt crisis, especially the call for the Obama administration to step-up its engagement on the issue. Furthermore, the Committee encourages AHEPA to keep sensitive to the needs of the Greek people, who have suffered greatly during this crisis; and to continue with its humanitarian aid whenever possible. The Committee’s hope is that integrity of the European Union is maintained.”

“Regardless of the outcome of the referendum held in Greece on July 5, 2015, what is crucial to the Greek American community is that U.S.-Greece relations remain strong and certain and Greece’s geostrategic importance and contributions to the security interests of the U.S. and NATO is valued and appreciated.”

In addition, Supreme President-elect John W. Galanis affirmed AHEPA’s July 1 statement on the Greek debt crisis and reiterated AHEPA’s concern for the well-being of the people of Greece.

At the banquet on Saturday, a message by Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras was read by Consul General Xenitellis.

The AHEPA Cyprus & Hellenic Affairs Committee’s report also contained the sense of the committee on the resumption of Cyprus settlement talks and on legislative initiatives undertaken in the 114th Congress.

Founded in 1922 in Atlanta, Georgia, to protect individuals from the evils of bigotry and discrimination, AHEPA is the largest and oldest grassroots association of American citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes with more than 400 chapters across the United States, Canada, Greece and Cyprus.

The mission of AHEPA is to promote the ancient Greek ideals of Education,Philanthropy, Civic Responsibility, and Family and Individual Excellence through community service and volunteerism.