Paul Sarbanes

The current US elections are of increased interest to Greece. In addition to electing a new president, Americans are electing, always by a majority system, the new 435 members of the House of Representatives, representing an equal number of constituencies in the country, and 33 senators, one-third of the members of the Senate.

After the official confirmation of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz’s candidacies by the Democratic National Convention last Thursday, the electoral landscape in the US is set.

Matthew Nimetz, who acted as mediator in the "name" dispute between Athens and Skopje for 25 years, initially on behalf of the United States and later as a special envoy of the United Nations, highlights the significance of proper implementation of the Prespa Agreement, not only for Greece and North Macedonia, but also for regional stability in an interview with Kathimerini.

He has some character traits that are missing from Greek politicians. It was perhaps his substantive answers, his honesty, but mostly the air of a statesman that surrounded US Congressman John Sarbanes in the very interesting discussion he had last Wednesday with students from Deree College (part of the American College of Greece - ACG) in the school's Library.

Greece was very fortunate because it had a generation of Greek-American "giants" by its side upon whom it could rely whenever it faced difficulties. This was the generation that exerted immense pressure on Henry Kissinger after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and spent its political and economic capital to help Greece. 

With a focus on the theme of "Protecting Religious Freedom, Democracy & Human Rights," the 4th International Conference on Religious Freedom, organized by the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, started in Athens on Sunday and ends Tuesday.

US Congressman John Sarbanes was presented with the Leader award in Washington, DC on Monday, granted each year to an outstanding member of the Greek-American diaspora.

The United States Congress, the Greek-American community, as well as Greece and Cyprus, will miss the leadership, ethical presence and sense of purpose of John Sarbanes, who, a few days ago, announced his intention not to seek re-election in 2024.

Hellenism recently lost one of its most important representatives in the United States, Paul Sarbanes, who died at 87. The iconic politician left behind more than an extremely important body of work in American politics and a great contribution to the Greek-American community.

US Senator Paul Sarbanes, who passed away at the age of 87 on December 6, is a major reason we Hellenes are held in such high regard in the United States. The powerfully positive impression he made for decades on hundreds of influential American policymakers and opinion leaders is unsurpassed.