Embassy of the United States

Embassy Volunteers Take Out the Trash
11/15/2009 - Embassy volunteers joined over a hundred others to restore the beauty of Schinas. Volunteers filled bins with trash collected from the beach and forest. Over 1 million people visit the area, and if not picked up- garbage left behind harm the root systems of the pine trees that grow along the shore.

U.S. Embassy Reforests Area Hit By Fire
11/13/2009 - Over 100 volunteers from the US Embassy community, Greenbelt, and area high schools planted 1,000 trees in Pendeli. The land had been burnt in the 2007 fires. After the morning’s work, volunteers ate burgers at an Embassy BBQ and the students had a video conference with members of the US Forest service in Montana.

Balkans: A View from the New U.S. Administration
11/13/2009 - Ambassador Speckhard delivered the keynote address at the Southeast Europe: Crisis and Perspectives Conference in Athens on Friday, November 13th. The Ambassador outlined U.S. priorities for the Balkans and stressed American desire to continue working with European partners on issues important to the region.

Embassy Employee Association Helps Trafficking Victims
11/10/2009 - EWSA Board Member Chief Kees Davison gives a check for $2,000 to Niki Roubani, the President of the European Network of Women (ENOW) for a local shelter for victims of sex trafficking. The donation comes from the Embassy’s Employee Welfare & Services Association. Also pictured is Eva Yianelos, ENOW’s Treasurer.

President Obama's U.S. Energy Policy
11/09/2009 - Ambassador Speckhard addressed a Seminar on Energy and Foreign Policy that was organized by the Institute of Energy for the South East Europe (IENE). The seminar took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, November 9, 2009. Ambassador Speckhard outlined U.S. energy policy as outlined by the Administration of President Obama.

Francis Ford Coppola Addresses Local Film Students
10/30/2009 - Award-winning director Francis Ford Coppola visited Greece for the screening of his latest film “Tetro” at the Panorama film festival, Oct.30 - Nov.1, 2009. At an Embassy-sponsored event, the world renowned director addressed an audience of 350 local film and theater students as well as actors, directors and educators.

AMVER Awards
10/22/2009 -  Assistant Secretary of State for Political and Military Affairs, Andrew Shapiro, visited Athens for the Amver Awards, recognizing Greek vessels that use computer technology to assist persons in trouble at sea. He also met with high level Greek officials to discuss fighting piracy and other maritime security concerns.

From Neuroscience to Astrology
10/26/2009 - School children, educators, parents and general audiences had an opportunity to learn about the secret lives of ants, the mysterious paths of human memory, black holes and major catastrophic events that made life on our planet possible and other fascinating topics during the Science Film Festival, October 21-26.

U.S. Environmental Law Expert Leaves Eco Friendly "Footprint" in Greece
09/10/2009 - Assistant Attorney General of Minnesota Dr. Alan Williams spoke with Greek audiences on environmental law in the U.S. Williams saw firsthand environmental protection of lakes and wetland in Ioannina.

US B-Boys Spin Message Against Drugs and Violence
10/10/2009 - Hundreds of youth cheered on dancers from across Greece as they competed before top-ranked B-boys Ronnie and Rockadile. The stars also gave dance workshops to aspiring breakers, emphasizing how important a healthy lifestyle is in break dancing success.

"New Media, New Content?" conference
10/07/2009 - Mosaiko.gr, the U.S. Embassy’s youth-oriented website, sponsored an international conference entitled “New Media, New Content?” organized by the Hellenic Audiovisual Institute and the University of Athens Media Department on Wednesday, October 7, 2009.

U.S. Embassy Supports First Ever Greek Race For The Cure
09/27/2009 - Ambassador Speckhard and the U.S. Embassy community showed out in force to raise awareness for the battle against breast cancer. The first annual Susan B. Komen for the Cure and Pan-Hellenic Association of Women with Breast Cancer race was wildly successful both in terms of turn-out and media coverage.

Embassy Welcomes Top American Dance Company
09/21/2009 - Ambassador and Dr. Speckhard opened their Residence to the artists of the world-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, as well as many Greek friends of the company. The Alvin Ailey group is visiting Athens for a series of performances at the Athens Concert Hall, September 24-27, which will benefit Special Olympics Hellas.

Embassy Officers Talk Economics and Business with Drexel MBA Students
09/14/2009 Commercial Attache Bill Kutson and Deputy Economic Counselor Lea Bouzis gave a presentation covering the "Economic and Business Climate in Greece" to 50 MBA students from Drexel University.

Ambassador Hosts Iftar in Celebration of Ramadan
09/09/2009 - On September 9, Ambassador and Dr. Speckhard hosted an Iftar dinner in honor of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan for religious leaders, ambassadors and diplomats stationed in Greece, government officials, and NGO leaders.

Inspiring Interaction with English Language Teachers
09/03/2009 - Over 120 English Language teachers attended a presentation on “Teaching Vocabulary” by PAO Thomas Miller on September 3rd. Mr. Miller spoke in the northern city of Kavala at a conference organized by the Ministry of Education.

Health meets Cinema in Kos
09/06/2009 - American film directors won three of the top awards at the 1st Kos International Health Film Festival “Ippokratis,” which was organized September 1-6, 2009. The U.S. Embassy supported this initiative, fittingly held on the island of Kos -- the birthplace of Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine.

Ambassador Speckhard Visits Affected Sites
08/31/2009 - On August 31 Ambassador Speckhard visited sites affected by the fires with team from the Embassy. Starting from Varnava, Ambassador Speckhard visited Grammatiko, Marathonas, Kalentzi, Agios Steafanos, Drosia, Dionysos, and Pandeli.

Native Nations Dance
08/27/2009 - The Native Nations Dance Theater, featuring four generations of Native American performers appeared in Kapandriti, Attica, on August 27, 2009. The group will also appear in other cities of Greece in the following week as part of the Aradosivia and the Demetria Festival.

Senator Edward Kennedy Dies at 77
08/27/2009 -  Ambassador Speckhard discusses legacy of Ted Kennedy on SKAI TV.

Senator Bond visits Athens, Souda Bay
08/20/2009 - Senator Christopher Bond of Missouri met with Greek officials and visited US Naval Support Activity Souda 8/20-21. In meeting with press he praised example of Missouri National Guard units helping develop agriculture in Afghanistan and spoke highly of constituent Boeing as maker of state of the art equipment.

AHEPA's "Journey to Greece" Program
07/15/2009 - Ambassador Speckhard addressed thirty 3rd and 4th generation Greek-American and Greek-Canadian university students on U.S. and Greek bilateral relations as part of their month long “Journey to Greece” program, organized by the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) and the University of Indianapolis.

Honoring Greek anti-trafficking Hero
07/09/2009 - Ambassador Speckhard hosted an event on July 9 in honor of Major George Vanikiotis, a commander in the Anti-Trafficking Unit of the Attica Police’s Organized Crime Division, who was declared by the Department as one of nine “Heroes in the Global Effort to Combat Trafficking in Persons.”

Embassy Celebrates U.S. Independence
07/02/2009 - Ambassador Speckhard hosted over 2,000 people at his residence on July 2 in honor of U.S. Independence Day. Guests included the Minister of Defense, the Minister of Development, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as the President of the Parliament.