NO. 79
WASHINGTON, DC — The American Hellenic Institute Foundation (AHIF) College Student Foreign Policy Trip to Greece and Cyprus completed its 14th year as 10 students from across the United States participated in the 17-day program held June 14 to July 1, 2022. Following three days of briefings in Washington, D.C., and a five-day visit to Cyprus, the student group visited Athens, June 23 to July 1, 2022.
“Greece is a dependable and vital United States ally and NATO partner as well as a frontline state against terrorism,” AHI President Nick Larigakis said. “Our itinerary in Greece aimed to educate the community’s next generation of leaders about the Greece’s geostrategic importance, which includes Souda Bay, and the security challenges it confronts.”
When the group arrived in Athens on June 23, Secretary General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy John Chrysoulakis hosted the students to a welcome dinner and tour of the Acropolis Museum. Athanasios G. Platias, professor of Strategy at the University of Piraeus served as the keynote speaker that evening. He presented on the topic, “The Geostrategic Changes in the Mediterranean and their Consequences.”
Students Learn about Greece’s Military, Defense Capabilities
The students received a defense policy briefing by Vice Admiral Ioannis Drymousis, HN, deputy chief of the Hellenic Defense General Staff, a highlight of the visit to the Ministry of Defense. Director of Public Relations Directorate Brigadier General Ioannis Karalis welcomed the group. Vice Admiral Drymousis also hosted the students for lunch at the Hellenic Navy Officers Club, located at the Defense Ministry.
In addition to a day trip to Souda Bay, Crete (see news release), the students visited Salamis for a visit to the Greek Naval Fleet Headquarters, which included multiple presentations and visits to a Greek naval frigate and submarine. They met Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Panagiotis Lymberis, H.N., and received briefings from Lt. Commander Konstantinos Papantonakis, who is the director of the Submarine School; Lt. Commander Ioannis Bournis, HN, who commands the submarine, “PIPINOS,” and Commander Konstantinos Kalogrias, who commands the frigate, “SPETSES.” The students also toured a submarine simulator and went inside one of the 11 submarines in Greece’s naval fleet. Vice Admiral Lymberis graciously hosted the students for lunch at his residence.
“I was truly impressed with the number of amazing visits and meetings with top government, military, and religious leaders throughout both Greece and Cyprus,” Participant Brendan O’Connor said. “From climbing aboard a navy submarine to standing in an active military outpost on the Green Line, this trip brings you as close to the most pressing issues in the region as possible.”
Insights on Greece’s Foreign Policy Direction
Furthermore, the students gained insight about Greece’s foreign policy formulation during visits to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and to Hellenic Parliament. At the ministry, they met with Secretary General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy Chrysoulakis and Greece’s Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Andreas Katsaniotis. They also attended informative meetings with several directors at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including: Ilias Kremmidas, A7 Directorate, North America; Despoina Lourbacou, A2 Directorate, Cyprus; and Nikolaos Papageorgiou, A4 Directorate, Turkey. Following a tour of the Hellenic Parliament, the group met with Special Permanent Committee of Diaspora Greeks Chairman Savvas Anastasiadis (Nea Dimokratia) and several members of the Standing Committee on National Defense and Foreign Affairs.
“The American Hellenic Institute Foreign Policy Trip was an experience like no other,” Participant Zoe Logas said. “From traveling to various military bases to getting to speak in the Parliament, AHI has provided an environment that has allowed me to determine the direction in which I would like my career to go.”
Moreover, the students learned about Greece’s presence and policy toward the European Union during a briefing with Ambassador Ioannis Vrailas, who is the permanent representative of Greece to the EU. They also had a meeting Evangelos Kalpadakis, Diplomatic Adviser to the leader of SYRIZA Alexis Tsipras.
The program’s itinerary also provided the students with the opportunity to learn about Greece’s economic trends and prospects for investment opportunities from Minister of Development and Investment Adonis Georgiadis in addition to the significance of Greece’s shipping industry during a meeting at the headquarters of Tsakos Shipping and Trading, S.A. For added insight, the group also met with Marina Martinou at the Eastern Mediterranean Maritime Limited.
“This foreign policy trip with the American Hellenic Institute is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Participant Andreas Poulis said. “We were able to meet with multiple intellectuals, high ranking military and political officials, and were able see many fascinating places.”
Further, the students also enjoyed a tour of the famed Karaiskakis Stadium, home of Olympiacos F.C., June 24. Olympiacos Director of International Relations Kostas Vernikos sponsored the tour. Afterward, Director Vernikos and Chief Communications Officer of Capital Ship Management Corporation, Dr. Niki Kalogiratou, sponsored a sea-side dinner.
Several dignitaries also hosted dinners for the students, including: Hotel Grande Bretagne General Manager Hom Parviz at the hotel, Nikolaos Bakatselos, president of the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce; and a recreational outing and dinner sponsored by Chief of the Hellenic Navy, Vice Admiral Stylianos Petrakis.
The trip concluded with a farewell dinner hosted by the American Hellenic Institute Foundation at the Hotel Grande Bretagne. Many of the officials with whom the students met, as well as AHI supporters, attended the dinner. Each student gave a brief speech reflecting on his or her experience. The students’ statements differed, but there was a common thread of gratitude toward all the AHI Foundation supporters. All students described their experiences on the foreign policy trip as immensely educational and as a life-changing one
“We are extremely grateful to our sponsors for their generous hospitality and for helping to make the students’ trip a memorable one,” Larigakis said. “Their selfless contributions to this very important AHI Foundation program are invaluable.”
“The American Hellenic Institute Foundation Student Foreign Policy Trip is an experience I will never forget,” Participant Natasia Mariah Raphtis said. “It is an opportunity few other students will be able to experience in their lifetime. I did not understand the true gravity of what we were doing until I was shaking hands with General Konstantinos Floros at our final dinner of the trip.”
“What an incredible 17 days,” Participant Eleni Piliotis reflected. “It was such an honor and privilege to travel with other passionate, like-minded college students to pursue the American Hellenic Institute Foundation Student Foreign Policy Trip to Washington DC, Cyprus, and Greece. Meeting with Ambassadors, members of Congress, military leaders, government officials, professors, and more provided great insights and a unique perspective on issues affecting the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond…After the 17 days I left with an abundance of memories, experiences, and moments I will always reflect back upon.”
About Our Participants
Melina Christodoulou is a junior and a Dean's List student at Drew University in Madison, NJ pursuing a BA in political science and a minor in communications.
Maria Fusca is a senior at the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs, where she is pursuing a BA in International Affairs and two minors in Sociocultural Anthropology and Cross-Cultural Communication.
Morgan Lilly is a junior and Dean’s list student at the University of Georgia where he is pursuing a double major in Political Science and International Affairs.
Zoe Logas is a rising junior in the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, majoring in public policy with a concentration in defense policy and foreign policy, and minoring in history.
Brendan C. O’Connor is a junior and Dean’s List student at American University majoring in international studies with a minor in the Russian language.
Eleni Piliotis graduated from UC Davis with a bachelor’s degree in political science with an emphasis in international relations. She will be starting her master’s degree for Security Policy Studies at The George Washington University.
Andreas Poulis is a junior at the American University studying international relations with a regional focus on Europe and a thematic focus on peace, global security and conflict resolution.
Natasia Mariah Raphtis is a junior at the University of Michigan, pursuing a dual degree in political science and international relations and a minor in modern Greek.
Anastasia Staurulakis is a senior at Tulane University, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in accounting. She is a recipient of Tulane’s Merit Award.
Christopher Zrazik, a Dean’s List student and Presidential Academic Scholarship recipient, is a sophomore at the Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University majoring in International Affairs, concentrating in Security Policy, and minoring in Public Policy.