Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will address a Joint Meeting of the US Congress on May 17 following an invitation from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
Mitsotakis who will be meeting with the President of the United States Joe Biden at the White House the day before will become the first Greek leader to address the Congress.
He will join only 8 other world leaders who have addressed a Joint Meeting of Congress since 2015. They include Pope Francis, the Prime Ministers of India, Japan and Israel, and the Presidents of Afghanistan, France and Ukraine and the NATO Secretary-General.
Pelosi, along with the bi-partisan leadership of both the US Senate and House of Representatives, including House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, invited Mitsotakis to address US Senators and Members of Congress on the floor of the US House of Representatives at 11:00 am ET.
Historic address by Mitsotakis to the US Congress
This historic address will take place on the occasion of the celebration of Greece’s bicentennial and the return of democracy to its birthplace.
Speaker Pelosi said to Prime Minster Mitsotakis in this invitation, “As our world faces a pivotal moment in the fight between the forces of democracy and autocracy, the transatlantic alliance remains vital to the future of freedom in the world.
“The Congress and our Country look forward to hearing your message of democratic values as we continue to strengthen our partnership, bolster security and freedom worldwide, and build a brighter future for our children.”
Below is the text of the letter to the Prime Minister:
April 28, 2022
His Excellency Kyriakos Mitsotakis
Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic
General Secretariat of the Prime Minister
Maximos Mansion
Herod Atticus 19
10674 Athens, Greece
Dear Mr. Prime Minister:
On behalf of the bipartisan leadership of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, it is my honor to invite you to address a Joint Meeting of the two houses of Congress, assembled in the Chamber of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. It is our great privilege to host you for this belated commemoration of the Greek bicentennial, which we had to unfortunately delay last year due to the pandemic.
The unshakable bond between the United States and Greece is firmly rooted in our shared history and values. When drafting our Constitution, our Founders drew on the Ancient Greek ideals of liberty and democracy. Decades later, the Hellenic Republic was born of the same yearning for independence and self-government that ignited the American Revolution. Today, more than two centuries later, our nations are key allies on the world stage: advancing our mutual security and economic interests, as well as promoting our shared democratic values in the world.
As our world faces a pivotal moment in the fight between the forces of democracy and autocracy, the transatlantic alliance remains vital to the future of freedom in the world. The Congress and our Country look forward to hearing your message of democratic values as we continue to strengthen our partnership, bolster security and freedom worldwide, and build a brighter future for our children.
best regards,
NANCY PELOSI
Speaker of the House