Ambassador’s reception for the Fourth of July
The reception at the residence on Panaghi Kyriakou Street was the biggest of the year, and so was the line of people waiting to greet American Ambassador Charles Ries who is already informed about local events and who speaks Greek. It was the 229th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence, and was held the following day, July 5, so that embassy staff would not miss a day’s leave. The ambassador spoke about the common struggle of the Greeks and Americans for freedom and independence. Among those present were former prime minister Tzanis Tzanetakis, parliamentary speaker Anna Psarouda-Benaki, Archbishop Christodoulos and government ministers.
