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RAPTAKIS AND GROUP OF HELLENIC-AMERICAN STATE OFFICIALS MEET WITH ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH DURING WASHINGTON DC VISIT RAPTAKIS AND GROUP OF HELLENIC-AMERICAN STATE OFFICIALS MEET WITH ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH DURING WASHINGTON DC VISIT Group discuss issues, reaffirm commitment to work with their United States Senators and Congressmen to promote issues of concern to Patriarchate (Coventry, RI 11/10/09) State Senator Leonidas Raptakis was one of eight Hellenic-American officials who met with His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew last Wednesday during his recent visit to Washington, DC. The Patriarch was in the United States for meetings with Congressional leaders in the U.S. Capitol, including President Barak Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton. Raptakis and his state government colleagues came together at the St. Regis Hotel Wednesday afternoon to meet with the Patriarch and let him know they were committed to continuing their work to educate their United States Senators and Congressmen to educate them on issues of concern with to the Patriarchate. The group discussed issues such as the effort to re-open the Theological School of Halki and the need to push Turkey to change its policies and respect the rights and religious freedoms of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. “This was a serious meeting to let the Patriarch know we are a resource that can help promote a strong dialogue with key members of the United States Senate and Congress,” said Raptakis. “Our group can reach out to our elected officials in Congress, a total of sixteen United States Senators and eight Congressmen, in order to make sure they are advocates for promoting religious liberty and freedom.” State Representative Nick Manolakos of Delaware who recently sponsored a House Resolution supporting Religious Freedom¢s regarding the Ecumenical Patriarchate said “We can¢t ignore the recent behavior of the Turkish officials just because they are also American Allies in a time of need.” State Representative Mike Cheokas of Georgia added, “In the United States, we often take for granted our freedom of religion, while in Turkey, thousands of Orthodox Christians are not allowed those same freedoms.” In addition to Raptakis and Cheokas, the following officials took part in the meeting with the Ecumenical Patriarch: State Representative Demetrius Atsalis of Massachusetts, Illinois State Treasurer Alex Giannoulias, State Representative Thomas Katsiantonis of New Hampshire, State Representative Nick Manolakos of Delaware, Nevada State Assemblyman James Ohrenschall and State Representative Theodoros Rokas of New Hampshire. All of the members of this group belong to the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association and are planning to attend the organization¢s next meeting in Athens. His Holiness extended an invitation to the elected officials to visit him in the Patriarchate in Constantinople. “My hope is that the Obama administration will make it a priority to take a serious look at resolving these issues and developing action steps to produce meaningful results,” said Raptakis. “Our group of elected officials will be working with their members of Congress to push for action in this regard.” Print Article��Email to a friend   TURKEY'S FRONTLINE FOREIGN POLICY 1 Light at the End of Greece¢s Difficult Tunnel Condemnation of the death of our compatriot Aristotelis Goumas From Albanian terrorists. 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