2019 -- S 0730

========

LC002223

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

____________

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CELEBRATING MARCH 25, 2019, AS THE 198TH ANNIVERSARY OF GREEK

INDEPENDENCE DAY

     Introduced By: Senators Raptakis, Euer, Ruggerio, Gallo, and Nesselbush

     Date Introduced: March 26, 2019

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     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 year, 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, 2019, Greek Independence Day, marks the 198th 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, The role of United States innovation and technology in Greece's shipping

sector where ONEX also announced its additional plans for other operations here in Greece were

highlighted at the 2018 Thessaloniki International Fair; and

     WHEREAS, In December of 2018, at the United States-Greece Strategic Dialogue, it was

clear that both nations, along with their EU partners, are united in their belief that Greece is a

pillar of stability in a region that stretches from the Black sea to the Mediterranean and on to the

Persian Gulf that is vital to United States Interests; and

     WHEREAS, In September of 2018, the United States participation as the host nation in

the Greek City of Thessaloniki in the 83rd Thessaloniki International Trade Fair, under the

auspices of United States Ambassador Geoffrey R. Pyatt, highlighted a landmark event in Greek-

United States relations and an economic partnership between the two nations; and

     WHEREAS, The United States Secretary of Commerce, Wilbur Ross, stressed during the

energy conference organized by the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), that

the presence of major American companies at the TIF is a sign of trust in the future of Greece's

economy and of America's desire to be a part of it; 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, 2019, as the 198th Anniversary of Greek Independence, reaffirms

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

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

Patriarchate; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate commends Greece as it assumes an increasing leadership

role in resolving long-standing diplomatic issues in its neighborhood, and we affirm our common

vision to integrate the countries of the region firmly in European and Euro-Atlantic institutions;

and

LC002223 - Page 2 of 3

     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, the member of the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, the

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

Archbishop Demtrios of the Greek Archdiocese of America.

========

LC002223

========

LC002223 - Page 3 of 3