"The exclusion of Greece, the only nation formally nominated to become a visa waiver nation, is disappointing and regrettable. We contend Greece is best-positioned for inclusion into the program based on its merits.
"We welcome the news that the United States and Greece have resumed talks on the subject. We call for the inclusion of Greece into the Visa Waiver Program upon its immediate compliance with visa wavier requirements and regulations.
"Expansion of the United States' Visa Waiver Program is beneficial to the United States because it will help its global image and foster commerce and tourism," Gulas added. "The program's expansion to include Greece would contribute greatly to this and would be a great source of pride for the nation's three million Greek-Americans."
Among its many merits, Greece's visa refusal rate is one of the best at 1.6 percent for FY07.
Inclusion of Greece into the Visa Waiver Program was a significant initiative championed by AHEPA because of the organization's historical role as a bridge between the United States and Greece for 86 years. Since January 2006, AHEPA worked with Congress to introduce legislation (H.R.2526 sponsored by Hellenic Caucus Co-Chair Carolyn Maloney) that designates Greece as a visa waiver nation, and hosted a public policy forum with leading administration, congressional, and policy experts to create awareness of the subject. Moreover, AHEPA worked with the Departments of State and Homeland Security to present the position of the American Hellenic community on the issue.
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AHEPA is the largest Greek-American association in the world with chapters in the United States, Canada, Greece, Cyprus, and sister chapters in Australia and New Zealand. It was established in 1922 by visionary Greek Americans to protect Hellenes from prejudice originating from the KKK, and in its history, AHEPA joined with the NAACP and B'nai B'rith International to fight discrimination.
The mission of the AHEPA family is to promote the ancient Greek ideals of education, philanthropy, civic responsibility and family and individual excellence through community service and volunteerism.
For more information about the AHEPA family, or how to join, please contact AHEPA Headquarters, (202) 232-6300, or visit www.ahepa.org.
