The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (Order of AHEPA), American Hellenic Institute (AHI), B’nai B’rith International and Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations issued the following joint statement:

“Our organizations welcome today’s agreement between Greece, Israel and Cyprus to proceed with the EastMed pipeline. The agreement demonstrates the significant progress the trilateral alliance has achieved in energy cooperation and the three countries’ leadership in the region to provide energy security.  We also are pleased the three countries are meeting for a seventh summit in Athens and that bilateral meetings also will occur between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, respectively.  We anticipate the summit will yield further prospects for advances across a multitude of sectors.

“We applaud the commitment to fostering peace, security, stability and shared democratic values and ideals, in the region by all parties. We will continue to lend our broad diaspora support and encouragement for advancing the trilateral alliance.”

Background
In August 2011 and December 2012 AHEPA, AHI, B’nai B’rith International and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations co-organized roundtable discussions in New York City between leaders of the American Jewish and American Hellenic communities.

In January 2018, the four organizations completed their third Leadership Mission to Israel, Cyprus and Greece.  A fourth mission will occur this month.  The groundbreaking inaugural mission to the three countries took place January 2014 and led to diaspora support for the tripartite, greater understanding between our communities and the greater recognition of our common values, intents and aspirations.

In December 2018, the organizations co-sponsored an international conference held in Jerusalem titled, “New Realities in the Eastern Mediterranean.”

About the other organizations
American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (Order of AHEPA) is a leading membership-based grassroots service association for American citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes. Its mission is to promote the ancient Greek ideals of Education, Philanthropy, Civic Responsibility, and Family and Individual Excellence through community service and volunteerism.

American Hellenic Institute (AHI) is a non-profit Greek American think-tank and public policy center that works to strengthen relations between the United States and Greece and Cyprus, and within the Greek American community.

The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations is the central coordinating body representing 53 national Jewish organizations on issues of national and international concern.