Cyprus Minister of Energy, Commerce, and Industry Michael Damianos Addresses Productive PSEKA Cyprus Conference in Washington, DC
Hellenic Leaders gather for the 41st annual PSEKA Cyprus Conference
The 41st annual PSEKA Cyprus Conference hosted by PSEKA, with the leadership of its president Philip Christopher, took place in Washington, DC on June 9-11. It was cosponsored by AHEPA, AHI, HABA, the Cyprus-US Chamber of Commerce, FCAO, the Chian Federation, the Pancyprian Association of America, Andreas Kramvis, and Andrew Constantinou, and coordinated by Manatos & Manatos/Coordinated Effort of Hellenes.
Cyprus Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry Michael Damianos addressed the group on its opening day and attended the reception hosted in the home of H.E. Ambassador of Cyprus Evangelos Savva, before travelling to Houston to participate with other cabinet members in the 3+1 meetings.
Minister Michael Damianos addresses the group
(left to right) Minister Michael Damianos, Philip Christopher, H.E. Ambassador Evangelos Savva, and Cyprus Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis
Twenty-five US Members of Congress and six US Senators in positions key to the future of Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean addressed a robust group of over 100 Hellenes dedicated to Hellenic issues. The Cyprus Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis, joined this year by his wife Irene, gave remarks as did of course H.E. Ambassador Evangelos Savva and H.E. Ambassador of Greece Antonis Alexandridis.
Cyprus Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis
Some of the Senators and Members who addressed the group and gave strong remarks regarding Cyprus include: Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Jim Risch (R-ID), who was presented an award
Chairman Risch addresses the group
Chairman Risch with Hellenic Leaders
Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Gregory Meeks (D-NY), who was presented the Sarbanes Freedom Award by Dennis Mehiel of New York
Ranking Member Meeks and Dennis Mehiel
Ranking Member Meeks addresses the group
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
The Grand Protopresbyter of the Great Church of Christ, Father Alex Karloutsos and Leader Schumer
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who was introduced by Dennis Mehiel
House Minority Leader Jeffries addresses the group
Senate Minority Whip Richard Durbin (D-IL) was presented an award. He is greeted by two mayors from Cyprus who joined the conference this year, Dr. Iosif Violaris of Kyrenia and Marios Zambakides of Kythrea
Sen. Durbin with Mayors from Cyprus (left to right) Dr. Iosif Violaris and Marios Zambakides
Sen. Durbin with Hellenic Leaders
Speaker Emerita of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who was presented the first ever Pelosi Democracy Award by Dennis Mehiel and Andy Manatos
Speaker Emerita Pelosi with Hellenic Leaders along with HE the Ambassadors of Greece and Cyprus, the Cyprus Government Spokesman and a member of the European Parliament
Speaker Emerita Pelosi addresses the group
Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Appropriations Committees
Sen. Van Hollen, seated next to Philip Christopher, is introduced by Andy Manatos
Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Sen. Booker addresses the group
Sen. Booker featured here with some of his New Jersey constituents and others
Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee
Sen. Blumenthal addresses the group
Ranking Member of the House Energy Committee Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
Rep. Pallone addresses the group
Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who was introduced by Savas Tsivicos of New Jersey
Rep. Chris Smith addresses the group
(left to right) Kyriacos Papastylianou, Rep. Smith, Savas Tsivicos and Rep. Pallone
Our wonderful Greek-American delegation: Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV), Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH), Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Rep. Mike Haridopolos (R-FL), and Rep. Jimmy Patronis (R-FL)
Rep. Titus addresses the group
Rep. Bilirakis with Cyprus Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis
Rep. Malliotakis addresses the group
Rep. Pappas with Hellenic Leaders, the Cyprus Government Spokesman, the Mayors visiting from Cyprus, and a member of the European Parliament
Rep. Goodlander and Philip Christopher
Rep. Haridopolos addresses the group
Rep. Patronis with Hellenic Leaders
Other members of the House of Representatives who addressed the group include Vice Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Gabe Amo (D-RI)
Rep. Amo with Hellenic Leaders, including RI State Senator Lou Raptakis and a member of the European Parliament
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and Chair of its CIA Subcommittee
Rep. Fitzpatrick with Mayors of Cyprus (left to right) Dr. Iosif Violaris and Mr. Marios Zambakides
Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), member of the House Appropriations Committee
Rep. Meng and Philip Christopher
Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL), member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
Rep. Schneider with Hellenic Leaders, including Rep. Bilirakis
Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ), member of the House Armed Services Committee
Rep. Norcross and George Horiates
Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Jim Himes (D-CT)
Rep. Himes with Rep. Bilirakis
Rep. Wesley Bell (D-MO), member of the House Armed Services Committee and newly appointed member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
Rep. Bell addresses the group
Brad Sherman (D-CA), member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
Rep. Sherman addresses the group
Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA), member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY), who was introduced by Dennis Mehiel
Rep. Ryan addresses the group
Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY)
Rep. Rob Menendez (D-NJ)
Rep. Menendez with Cyprus Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis and his wife, Irene Letymbiotis
Rep. Menendez with Hellenic Leaders
The Hellenes also heard from Julie Fishman Rayman, Senior Vice President of the American Jewish Committee, Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America and John Kirakou, former CIA agent and influencer who reaches tens of millions of listeners.
Julie Fishman Rayman addresses the group
Aram Hamparian addresses the group
John Kiriakou addresses the group
The evening banquet provided an opportunity for Cyprus Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis to give a keynote address and for Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Michael Kratsios to give remarks and be presented with a special award.
Andy Manatos presents Director Kratsios with his award
Director Kratsios with Hellenic Leaders
Director Kratsios with (left to right) Cyprus Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis, H.E. Ambassador Evangelos Savva, Savas Tsivicos, and Homeland Security Deputy Under Secretary John Gountanis
Other special recognitions were given that evening to long time Hellenes:
Markos Marinakis, who was presented the George Livanos Award
Andreas Comodromos, who was presented the George Paraskevaides Award
Tasos Zambas, who was presented the Nikos Mouyiaris Award
Honorees (left to right) Andreas Comodromos, Markos Marinakis, and Tasos Zambas
And a surprise presentation of the Andy Athens Award to Father Alex Karloutsos, The Grand Protopresbyter of the Great Church of Christ, who was joined by his wife, Presbytera Xanthi Karloutsos.
Father Alex Karloutsos and his wife Xanthi Karloutsos with Hellenic Leaders
AHEPA Supreme President Chris Kaitson addresses the group
AHI President Nick Larigakis with Philip Christopher
Andrew and Mary Ann Constantinou
Stephen Kaiafas addresses the group
The two and a half day conference concluded with a stimulating panel discussion on Cyprus energy, commerce and trade led by Demetrios Comodromos, president of the Cyprus-US Chamber of Commerce with participation by Nicolas Nicolaou, founder of Kinisis Ventures and past president of the Cyprus-US Chamber of Commerce, Member of European Parliament Geadis Geadi and Niovi Christopoulou, AI.FUND, Partner; City University of NY, Adjunct Professor of Business Law; Attorney.
Photos thanks to Dimitrios Panagos