1.1A Senate resolution
1.2celebrating March 25, 2021, as the 200th anniversary of Greek Independence
1.3Day and celebrating democracy in Greece and the United States.
1.4WHEREAS, On March 25, 1821, the Greek nation reclaimed its ancient heritage as the
1.5"Cradle of Democracy" by overthrowing the yoke of oppression which had enslaved its people
1.6since the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Conquered by the Ottoman Turks in the 15th century,
1.7Greece waged the successful War of Independence, from 1821 to 1829, and reinstituted a democratic
1.8form of government; and
1.9WHEREAS, the people of the United States generously offered humanitarian assistance to
1.10the Greek people during their struggle for independence; and
1.11WHEREAS, the price for Greece in holding onto common values in their region was high,
1.12as hundreds of thousands of civilians were killed in Greece during World War II; and
1.13WHEREAS, Greece is one of only three nations in the world, beyond the former British
1.14Empire, that has been allied with the United States in every major international conflict over the
1.15last 100 years; and
1.16WHEREAS, Greece, located in a region where Christianity meets Islam and Judaism,
1.17maintains excellent relations with Muslim nations and Israel and demonstrates religious tolerance;
1.18and
1.19WHEREAS, Greece and the United States are at the forefront of the effort for freedom,
1.20democracy, peace, stability, and human rights; and
1.21WHEREAS, Turkey has continued to destabilize the Aegean Sea and the Eastern
1.22Mediterranean Sea region. As a result, Greece, Israel, and Cyprus have formed a trilateral cooperation
1.23agreement against the aggressive regional policies of Turkey; and
1.24WHEREAS, a high-level review of the United States-Greece Strategic Dialogue took place
1.25in Greece on September 28, 2020, which underscored Greece's importance to the United States as
1.26a geostrategic partner in the Eastern Mediterranean and Balkans and as an important NATO ally;
1.27and
2.1WHEREAS, in support of the Greece 2021 Committee established by the government of
2.2Greece, the United States Mission in Greece has launched a campaign to celebrate the bicentennial
2.3of the Independence of Greece and the 200 years of friendship between the United States and
2.4Greece; and
2.5WHEREAS, it is proper and desirable for the United States to celebrate this anniversary
2.6with the Greek people and to reaffirm the democratic principles from which these two great nations
2.7were born; and
2.8NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that it
2.9hereby celebrates March 25, 2021, as the 200th anniversary of Greek independence and reaffirms
2.10Minnesota's abiding commitment to the magnificent principles of democracy and religious freedom.

Cal R. LudemanSecretary of the Senate

Paul E. GazelkaSenate Majority Leader

Jeremy MillerPresident of the Senate

Sandra L. PappasState Senator, District 65

Jennifer A. McEwenState Senator, District 7

D. Scott DibbleState Senator, District 61