Current Actions

• US House voting today on HR306 - Return of Churches Resolution

  Religious Freedom Advocates Encouraged to Continue Calling Congressional Offices to Block Last Ditch Effort by Ankara's Allies to Scuttle Measure

  With only hours left before a scheduled vote on H.Res.306 - a religious freedom measure calling on Turkey to return stolen Armenian, Greek, Assyrian, Syriac, and other Christian church properties to their rightful owners, Washington-based allies of Ankara have mounted a campaign to block the human rights measure
  

  Thanks to your support, H.R.306, spearheaded by Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) and Howard Berman (D-CA), was adopted 43 to 1 on July 20th of this year by the Foreign Affairs Committee as an amendment to a broader bill. Now measure has been scheduled for a floor vote by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) under a special parliamentary procedure known as the Suspension Calendar. The text of the resolution that is set to come before the House will be the same as the abridged version adopted at the committee level.

  House consideration of the measure may come as early as 6:00pm EST with a vote later in the evening. House proceedings can be watched online by visiting: http://houselive.gov/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&event_id=2

  Please take two minutes today - 120 seconds - to ask your U.S. Representative to vote YES on H.Res.306 when this religious freedom measure comes before the full U.S. House of Representatives.

  Simply click on the box below, type in your ZIP code and or full address to get the name and phone number for your U.S. Representative. Call the number and ask to leave a message for your representative. Ask for your elected official to support  Resolution 306 scheduled for vote today. Here's a sample script for your convenience:
  

  My name is [NAME] and I am calling from [CITY and STATE] to ask you to vote YES on H.Res.306 when this religious freedom measure comes before the House on Tuesday, December 13th. This resolution simply calls upon Turkey to allow Christians to pray in their own churches. As an American I believe it's vital for the U.S. to defend religious freedom. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom sharply criticizes Turkey for discriminating against Christians. Please vote YES on H.Res.306

• Urge Congress to Press Turkey to Return Greek and all Christian Churches

  ACTION ALERT – JULY 20^TH IS THE U.S. HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE VOTE! ACT NOW!

  On July 20th, as people of good conscience join with Hellenes around the world in commemorating the 37th anniversary of Turkey's illegal occupation of Cyprus, the House Foreign Affairs Committee will be taking up a measure calling for the return of Greek and all confiscated Christian Churches in Turkey to their rightful owners.

  The amendment, similar to H.Res.306, introduced earlier this year by Representatives Edward Royce (R-CA) and Committee Ranking Democrat Howard Berman (D-CA), will likely be added to the State Department Authorization bill, which is scheduled for consideration that day.  H.Res.306 has over 35 cosponsors and received the support of Armenian, Assyrian and Greek organizations, including the American Hellenic Council and the American Hellenic Institute.

  Please contact your U.S. Representative and urge him/her to support this powerful religious freedom measure. Simply type in your ZIP code and address below to send your message!

  If your Representative serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the custom letter below will urge him to vote YES on the amendment. If your Representative does not serve on the Committee, your phone script will ask your legislator to urge his/her colleagues on the Foreign Affairs Committee to vote YES on this amendment.

  Be sure to encourage friends and family to join you in this vital effort. And don't forget to report any feedback to us by emailing us at info@americanhellenic.org

  To learn more about the Return of Churches Resolution (H.Res.306), read the full text of the resolution here.

• Support the IMF actions in stabilizing the Greek & European Economies

  Overview

  A campaign has started in the U.S. Senate by eight Senators to stop the IMF from properly conducting its business and supporting global economic stability. The petition currently focuses on Greece and asks the IMF to stop lending money to Greece as part of the joint EU-IMF package arguing that the American taxpayer will lose money in the process, which could not be further from the truth.

  This campaign of misinformation and irresponsible rhetoric on behalf of certain Senators preys on the false perception that people have regarding the very role of the IMF, its mission and purpose and how the global financial system works. This behavior should not belong in the US Senate, especially in times where most western democracies are struggling with similar issues of financial stability and the danger of contagion.

  A Brief Background on the IMF role

  The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world. It was founded in 1945 after World War II ended based on the American principles and goals of global cooperation and development. The idea was (and is) that global prosperity will help the United States as well in expanding its economy and improving its economic future by creating a more peaceful world, adhering to common legal and economic principles, the very ones that made the United States a great country. The United States and the European Union are the largest contributors to the IMF budget (the US has roughly 17% of the votes and Special Drawing Rights). The role of the IMF has been important in creating global financial stability by supporting member-states when they are in dire financial condition. In turn, this financial stability benefits the United States and the rest of the world economies by preventing contagion, promoting cross-border dialogue and cooperation and preventing nationalistic flares by smoothing out economic cycles. That is exactly what the IMF is now doing in Greece and other peripheral EU countries (Portugal, Ireland etc)

  The IMF role in the Greek Financial Crisis

  In May 2010, the IMF, in a joint effort with the EU, provided EUR110 Billion to Greece in forms of loans. Due to market conditions, Greece was unable to unilaterally issue bonds in the private markets at an acceptable interest rate. As a result, the EU and IMF agreed to provide this liquidity at an acceptable interest rate to Greece. The IMF roughly has a one-third participation in the package, which brings its total exposure to about EUR30 Billions (USD40 Billion). As a result, the United States taxpayer provided roughly $40B x 17% = $6.8 Billion to this endeavor. Again, these are loans and not Grants, which means that the Greece will repay these loans with a fair interest rate. In addition, those loans are in first position, so even if the worst case scenario happens and Greece defaults on some of its bonds, it will not default on this loan. This loan will need to be paid first, before anything else. This is a common approach by the IMF in all its major endeavors in the past (Asian Crisis, Latin American Crisis etc) and the IMF always recovers its investment with interest. In addition, the IMF-EU loans come along with stringent conditions asking Greece to reform its economy with structural reforms with the long-term goal of making it more competitive  and viable.

  The Current Issue

  The IMF and the EU are currently preparing a new support package for Greece in the total range of EUR 90-120 Billion (USD 130 – 160 Billion). The terms under negotiation are still the same. This is a long term LOAN with roughly a 3.5% interest rate. Comparatively, the 10-Year Treasury Bond currently yields 3% or less. Therefore, the US Govt. is borrowing at less than 3% and lending out at 3.5%. No money is lost.

  Recent US Senate Developments

  Unfortunately, several US Senators are exploiting the general lack of financial knowledge and specifics surrounding the IMF role in the Greek Economic Crisis. They are doing this in order to create impressions of fiscal responsibility and gain votes. More specifically, a recent undertaking by Senators Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Jim DeMint (R-SC), David Vitter (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX), Jon Kyl (R-AR), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) urges our Administration “to take a taxpayer bailout of Greece through the International Monetary Fund (IMF) off the table . . . “. It is also said that a bill calling on the U.S. Treasury to oppose granting loans to European countries is under preparation.

  Our position: Show foresight, be prudent, support long-term US interests. Avoid political posturing and misinformation.

  We are saddened to see that short-term political posturing and electoral considerations playing on the fears of the population over the lack of fiscal discipline take precedence over the long-term well-being of the world financial system and by extension that of the United States.

  We expect from our Senators to adhere to the very American principles of global financial cooperation and stability that made this country great and allowed it to rebuild Europe and win the Cold War. Asking from the IMF to not support any further stability packages to Greece will be detrimental to the world economy by possibly creating contagion and hurting US banking and corporate interests abroad.  Political rhetoric fused with misinformation is not a responsible course of action at this point. The US taxpayer does not stand to lose any money from this transaction. It only stands to gain by helping a faithful ally in times of need.

  Greece has stood by the United States in all major conflicts throughout the 20th century, even in the Korean War, when only 16 nations around the world supported it.  In this new 21st century, Greece is working with the U.S. to combat terrorism and piracy, while it also provided significant logistical support during the war in Iraq, allowing access for our planes through Souda Bay, while other allies in the region refused. Greece also participates in the international effort in Afghanistan and provides significant logistical support in the Libya conflict, making strategic bases available, including that of Souda Bay.  At the same time, it helped evacuate citizens of various countries from Libya.

  Any action in the Senate aimed at opposing loans to European countries, including Greece, would greatly undermine and jeopardize the major reform program undertaken by the Government of Greece by further shaking the markets.  Greece’s failure will also be ours. As we all learned from the global economic crisis which began in 2008, no nation is isolated and what happens in Europe or any place in the world will undoubtedly have implications on our own economic situation, which is fragile to begin with.

  Take Action Now!

  Join our petition by emailing or writing to your US Senator to oppose any undertaking in the US Congress calling foropposition to IMF or US participation in support of Greece or other European countries in need of emergency financing. We have prepared a letter for you along those lines. Please feel free to edit and add your input or send like that. Make your voice heard & protect long-term US interests around the world!
  

• The Ecumenical Patriarchate needs your support!

  On Tuesday, November 27 2007, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg began to hear the first case ever brought before a European court filed by the Ecumenical Patriarchate against Turkey, seeking redress for properties confiscated by the Turkish government, namely the Patriarchal orphanage on the island of Pringipos.  
  
  In an effort to dry out the wellspring of the Orthodox faith, Turkey continues to defend its appropriation of church lands by denying legal status for the Ecumenical Patriarchate, even while the most adamant supporters of Turkish interests in the U.S. Congress have conceded that Turkey should cease its repressive policies imposed on the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Co-Chair of the Turkey Caucus Congressman Robert Wexler wrote to President Bush declaring that Turkey should "guarantee unequivocally religious freedom to the spiritual head of the second largest Christian Church in the world."
  
  We are at a turning point. If Turkey’s unjust policies continue to go unaddressed, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which has survived since its establishment by the Apostle Andrew nearly two thousand years ago, faces a very real threat of disappearance in the foreseeable future- unless Turkey is convinced that it is in its interest to accept the Ecumenical Patriarchate as a treasure rather than a threat. 
  
  While the case in the European Court of Human Rights proceeds, we here in the United States can do our part in defense of religious freedom for the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
  
  In our own Congress, there is a Congressional resolution gaining momentum with bi-partisan support that urges Turkey to respect the rights and religious freedoms of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Followers of the Orthodox faith, Hellenes, Philhellenes, human rights activists, and concerned citizens across the country are speaking out, writing letters, making phone calls, and sending emails to their Congressional Representatives asking them to support this critical piece of legislation.
  
  We can provide the critical mass to make all the difference. Let's stand united and act now to defend our religious freedoms and the integrity of our heritage and faith for the coming generations.
  
  Please take a few minutes to send your Member of Congress a message urging them to support the rights and religious freedoms of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
  
  Please urge your Representative to support House Resolution 180 calling for the Religiuos Freedom of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Turkey by filling out the form below.