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GOARCH - March 8, 1999
OFFICIAL NEWS

Congressman Donald Payne Visits Archbishop Spyridon

New York, NY - His Eminence Archbishop Spyridon, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, welcomed Congressman Donald Payne (D-NJ) to the Archdiocese on Friday, March 5.

A member of the International Relations Committee, Congressman Payne and Archbishop Spyridon discussed several issues of mutual concern. These included the reopening of the Theological School of Halki, the return of the Elgin Marbles to Greece, and the ongoing Cyprus issue. Further, they discussed other international issues including Kosovo and the general crisis in the Balkans.

In summarizing their discussions, Congressman Payne said that "I intend to bring to the Congress my concerns regarding the issues of the Elgin (Parthenon) Marbles, Halki, and Cyprus. It is necessary also that pressures be exerted on Turkey and Great Britain, as well as the friends of Greece and Cyprus."

The Archbishop later remarked that "Congressman Payne has been a friend to the Greek Orthodox Community for many years. His continuing interest in the particular affairs of human and religious rights that affect Greek Orthodox People around the world should be encouraging to us all. I look forward to an ongoing working relationship with him in the future."

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