2020 -- H 8033

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CELEBRATING MARCH 25, 2020, AS THE 199TH ANNIVERSARY OF GREEK

INDEPENDENCE DAY

     

     Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Corvese, Jackson, Shekarchi, and Filippi

     Date Introduced: June 17, 2020

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, On March 25, 1821, the Feast Day of the Annunciation, the Greek nation

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reclaimed its ancient heritage as the "Cradle of Democracy" by overthrowing the yoke of

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oppression which had enslaved its people since the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Conquered by

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the Ottoman Turks in the 15th century, Greece waged a successful war of Independence (1821-

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1829) and re-instituted a democratic form of government; and

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     WHEREAS, The people of the United States generously offered humanitarian assistance

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to the Greek people during their struggle for independence; and

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     WHEREAS, The price for Greece in holding onto our common values in their region was

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high, as hundreds of thousands of civilians were killed in Greece during World War II; and

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     WHEREAS, Greece is one of only three nations in the world, beyond the former British

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Empire, that has been allied with the United States in every major international conflict over the

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last 100 years; and

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     WHEREAS, Greece, located in a region where Christianity meets Islam and Judaism,

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maintains excellent relations with Muslim nations and Israel, and demonstrates religious

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tolerance; and

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     WHEREAS, The Ancient Macedonians were Hellenes and the northern Province of

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Greece, Macedonia, are their Hellenic descendants; and

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     WHEREAS, Greece and the United States are at the forefront of the effort for freedom,

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democracy, peace, stability, and human rights; and

 

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     WHEREAS, Over the past few years, the United States has significantly increased its

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engagement with Greece in the maritime sector. In partnership with the Greek shipping fleet, the

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United States is helping Greece and all of Southeast Europe ensure energy independence; and

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     WHEREAS, March 25, 2020, Greek Independence Day, marks the 199th Anniversary of

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the beginning of the revolution that freed the Greek people from the Ottoman Empire and

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celebrates the aspirations for democracy and tolerance that the people of Greece and the United

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States share; and

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     WHEREAS, United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Greece on October 4,

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2019, where he met with Greek leaders and together they signed the Mutual Defense Cooperation

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Agreement (MDCA); and

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     WHEREAS, In January of 2020, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the

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United States and met with President Donald J. Trump, Vice President Michael Pence, Secretary

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of State Mike Pompeo, and Congressional Leaders to enhance bilateral cooperation and discuss

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issues related to trade, energy and mutual security; and

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     WHEREAS, Turkey has continued to destabilize the Aegean Sea and the Eastern

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Mediterranean Sea region. As a result, Greece, Israel and Cyprus have formed a trilateral

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cooperation agreement against the aggressive regional policies of Turkey. Each country's strong

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relationship with the United States, as well as the prospect of an Eastern Mediterranean pipeline

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enabling safe transmission of gas to Western Europe are critical to security and energy stability.

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Passage of the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019 will facilitate

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energy and security cooperation between the United States, Greece, Cyprus and Israel; and

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     WHEREAS, It is proper and desirable for the United States to celebrate this Anniversary

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with the Greek people and to reaffirm the democratic principles from which these two great

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nations were born; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

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Providence Plantations hereby celebrates March 25, 2020, as the 199th Anniversary of Greek

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Independence, reaffirms Rhode Island's abiding commitment to the magnificent principles of

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democracy and religious freedom, and urges Turkey to respect the rights and religious freedoms

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of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of

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Cranston, the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of Pawtucket, the St. Spyridon Greek

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Orthodox Church of Newport, members of the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, the

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

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     Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Archdiocese of America.

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