DELAWARE STATE SENATE

151st GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 8

CELEBRATING MARCH 25, 2021, AS THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY AND CELEBRATING DEMOCRACY IN GREECE AND THE UNITED STATES.

WHEREAS, on March 25, 1821, the Feast Day of the Annunciation, the Greek nation reclaimed its ancient heritage as the “Cradle of Democracy” by overthrowing the yoke of oppression which had enslaved its people since the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Conquered by the Ottoman Turks in the 15 ^th century, Greece waged a successful War of Independence (1821-1829) and re-instituted a democratic form of government; and

WHEREAS, the People of the United States generously offered humanitarian assistance to the Greek people during their struggle for independence; and

WHEREAS, the price paid by the Greek people to hold on to the values our nations hold in common was high, as hundreds of thousands of civilians were killed in Greece during World War II; and

WHEREAS, Greece is one of only three nations in the world, beyond the former British Empire, that has been allied with the United States in every major international conflict over the last 100 years; and

WHEREAS, Greece, located in a region where Christianity meets Islam and Judaism, maintains excellent relations

with Muslim nations and Israel, and demonstrates religious tolerance; and

WHEREAS, Greece and the United States are at the forefront of the effort for freedom, democracy, peace, stability, and human rights; and

WHEREAS, on October 4, 2019, the United States and Greece signed the Mutual Defense Corporation Agreement; and

WHEREAS, Turkey has continued to destabilize the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean Sea region. As a result, Greece, Israel, and Cyprus have formed a trilateral cooperation agreement against the aggressive regional policies of Turkey. Each nation’s strong relationship with the United States, as well as the prospect of an Eastern Mediterranean pipeline enabling safe transmission of gas to Western Europe are critical to security and energy stability. Passage of the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019 will facilitate energy and security cooperation between the United States, Greece, Cyprus, and Israel; and

WHEREAS, a high-level review of the United States-Greece Strategic Dialogue took place in Greece on September 28, 2020, which underscored Greece’s importance to the United States as a geostrategic partner in the Eastern Mediterranean and Balkans and as an important NATO ally; and

WHEREAS, in support of the Greece 2021 Committee established by the Government of Greece, the United States Mission in Greece has launched a campaign to celebrate the bicentennial of the Independence of Greece and the 200 years of friendship between the United States and Greece; and

WHEREAS, it is proper and desirable for the United States to celebrate this Anniversary with the Greek people and to reaffirm the democratic principles from which these two great nations were born.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 151 ^st General Assembly that March 25, 2021, will be celebrated as the 200 ^th Anniversary of Greek Independence, and that the Senate reaffirms Delaware’s abiding commitment to the magnificent principles of democracy and religious freedom, and urges Turkey to respect the rights and religious freedoms of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Wilmington, members of Delaware’s Congressional delegation, and Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Archdiocese of America.

SYNOPSIS

This resolution celebrates March 25, 2021, as the 200th Anniversary of Greek Independence, and reaffirms Delaware’s commitment to the principles of democracy and religious freedom.

Author: Senator Mantzavinos