Addressing an event held at the White House to commemorate the Greek Independence Day of March 25, 1821, on Friday (04.04), President Barack Obama said that “for one day, we are all Greeks" and that “Greece and the U.S. stand side by side as partners and allies.”

President Obama emphasized the profound impact Greek-Americans had in the American nation, and referred specifically to the Greek communities of Tarpon Springs (Florida) and Chicago. He closed his brief address by exclaiming in Greek “Long live Greece!”

Opening the event, Vice President Joe Biden, said that he welcomed Greece’s continued economic progress, as the government carries out reforms, and pledged enduring US support for returning Greece to economic growth and prosperity. VP Biden also expressed his support for the reopening of the Theological School of Halki.

Archbishop Demetrios of America thanked President Obama for the hospitality and great honour to the Orthodox Greek-American community, and spoke of the “common values” uniting Greeks and Americans.

In the event, held for the 28th consecutive year, Greece was represented by Culture and Sports Minister Panos Panayiotopoulos, Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni and Greek Ambassador to Washington Christos Panagopoulos.

Vice President Joe Biden had called Prime Minister Antonis Samaras (3.04) to express his appreciation for the valuable role Greece continues to play as a strategic partner and NATO ally, a White House spokesman said in a statement. According to the statement, Biden congratulated Samaras over the Greek Independence Day. He further “welcomed Greece’s continued economic progress as the government carries out its reforms, and pledged enduring US support for returning Greece to economic growth and prosperity,” the statement said.