ATHENS – AHEPA Solon Chapter HJ04, which is based in Athens, organized and presented a panel discussion about the deepening relations between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. The participants included leading Greek academic figures supplemented by two members of the chapter who were introduced by its president George Malamos.

The informative discussion and Q & A, which was moderated by Solon member retired Major General Taxiarxis Sardelis, took place on May 4 at the Hellenic Armed Forces Officers’ Club in Athens. The speakers illuminated the developing partnership that augments the value of the two Hellenic states in the Eastern Mediterranean. It was noted that as the three strong democracies in the region whose cultural heritage constitute the foundation of Western Civilization, the three countries have much common and even more to share.

By cooperating it is believed that they will boost peace and prosperity in the whole region.

Ioannis Mazis, professor at The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, emphasized the importance of the continued strengthening of the trilateral relationship and Panteion University, Professor and President of the Institute of Foreign Affairs Haralambos Papasotiriou spoke about the importance of the Souda Bay naval base on Crete in the context America’s foreign policy and its presence in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, and for NATO.

Prof. Angelos Syrigos of Panteion referred to the importance of maintaining good relationsbetween the three countries and the value of policy continuity through five consecutive Greek governments.

Alexander Drivas, PhD candidate at Panteion, who is also a member of the Solon Chapter,spoke about the strategic balances Greece must pursue, its past foreign policy errors, and the process that led to the corrections entailed by the alliance with Cyprus and Israel.

Chapter VP Christos Fasalis discussed Greece’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the need to make proper use of International Law, and the place of the EEZ in Greek-Turkish relations and in the protection of both Greek and Cypriot rights.

Present were leaders of the Daughter of Penelope Chapter 271 and the Regional Governor of AHEPA Hellas District 25 governor Vassilios Pektides,accompanied by District Secretary Kostas Kouzarakis and Panagiotis Rizopoulos.

Also represented were Greek political and military officials such as Alcibiades Stefanis of the The Hellenic Army General Staff, New Democracy Party parliamentary candidate Alfredo Saltiel representing the Greek Jewish community, New Democracy Foreign Affairs expert George Koumoutsakos, and retired Admiral Vassilios Martzoukos, who is the president of the Hellenic Institute of Strategic Studies.

The event’s sponsors included the Hellenic Armed Forces Officers’ Club, Foreign Affairs Hellenic Edition, and the news outlet Liberal.gr, whose publisher Loucas Katsonis, also spoke of the significance of relations between Greece, Israel, and Cyprus.

The distinguished panelists included: (L-R)Christos Fasalis, Alexander Drivas, Haralambos Papasotiriou, Major General Taxiarxis Sardelis, retired, Ioannis Mazis, and Angelos Syrigos