2023 -- S 0689
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LC000791
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N
CELEBRATING MARCH 25, 2023, AS THE 202ND ANNIVERSARY OF GR EEK
INDEPENDENCE DAY AND CELEBRATING DEMOCRAC Y IN GREECE AND THE
UNITED STATES
Introduced By: Senator Leonidas P. Raptakis
Date Introduced: March 21, 2023
Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration
WHEREAS, On March 25, 1821, the Feast Day of the Annunciation, the Greek nation 1
reclaimed its ancient heritage as the "Cradle of Democracy" by overthrowing the yoke of 2
oppression which had enslaved its people since the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Conquered by 3
the Ottoman Turks in the 15th century, Greece waged a successful war of Independence (1821-4
1829) and re-instituted a democratic form of government; and 5
WHEREAS, The People of the United States generously offered humanitarian assistance 6
to the Greek people during their struggle for independence; and 7
WHEREAS, The price for the people of Greece to hold onto their common values in their 8
region was high, as hundreds of thousands of civilians were killed in Greece during World War 9
II; and 10
WHEREAS, Greece is one of only three nations in the world, beyond the former British 11
Empire, that has been allied with the United States in every major international conflict over the 12
last 100 years; and 13
WHEREAS, Greece, located in a region where Christianity meets Islam and Judaism, 14
maintains excellent relations with Muslim nations and Israel, and demonstrates religious 15
tolerance; and 16
WHEREAS, The Ancient Macedonians were Hellenes and the northern Province of 17
Greece, Macedonia and the Hellenic descendants; and 18
WHEREAS, Greece and the United States are at the forefront of the effort for freedom, 19
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democracy, peace, stability, and human rights; and 1
WHEREAS, Many American Philhellenes participated and fought in the Greek War of 2
Independence. One such individual was George Wilson from Providence, Rhode Island, who 3
served as a gunman in the Greek fleet, most notably in the battle against the Turkish Navy in 4
Nafpaktos Bay, Greece; and 5
WHEREAS, Turkey has continued to destabilize the Aegean Sea and the Eastern 6
Mediterranean Sea Region. As a result, the United States Department of State continues to 7
strongly support regional efforts that enhance and promote cooperation and regional stability, 8
including the 2+1 mechanism in which the Republic of Cyprus (ROC), Greece, Israel and the 9
United States participate. The United States Department of State also supports projects such as 10
the planned Greece Africa Power interconnector from Egypt to Crete and the Greek mainland; 11
and 12
WHEREAS, United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on his recent visit to 13
Greece, praised the Hellenic republic for its leading role concerning the region's energy transition 14
in his opening remarks at the start of the 4
th
round of the Greece-US Strategic Dialogue, while 15
underlining that the United States is grateful for Greece's unwavering support for Ukraine which 16
underscored Greece’s importance to the United States as a geostrategic partner in the Eastern 17
Mediterranean and Balkans and as an important NATO ally; now, therefore be it 18
RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby celebrates March 25, 19
2023, as the 202nd Anniversary of Greek Independence, reaffirms Rhode Island’s abiding 20
commitment to the magnificent principles of democracy and religious freedom, and urges Turkey 21
to respect the rights and religious freedoms of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; and be it further 22
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 23
transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of 24
Cranston, the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of Pawtucket, the St. Spyridon Greek 25
Orthodox Church of Newport, members of the Rhode Island Congressional delegation, the 26
Honorable Symeon Tegos, Consul General of the Hellenic Republic in Boston, Archbishop 27
Elpidophoros of the Greek Archdiocese of America. 28
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LC000791
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