EDITOR’S NOTE (Nick Stamatakis): The Pancretan Association of America (led by Diane Kounalakis) and the World Council Of Cretans (led by Nikos Kastrinakis) are among the most successful organizations in the Greek-American community, with a variety of events throughout the year and multiple other gatherings and actions – visit to their websites pancretan.org and ucc.org will entice those of you of Cretan descent and the many friends of Crete to participate… The latest was the excellent documentary, “Venizelos: The Struggle for Asia Minor,” presented on March 13 at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., hosted by the Venizelos Foundation USA.
Below is a trailer, followed by the press release. We hope to see it soon in New York.
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Venizelos Foundation USA Hosted an Exclusive Screening of the Award-Winning Documentary “Venizelos: The Struggle for Asia Minor” at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
In a highly successful event, the Venizelos Foundation USA, in collaboration with
Georgetown University’s Modern Greek Studies Program, the Greater Washington, D.C.
Chapter of the Pancretan Association of America, and Georgetown’s Hellenic Association,
hosted a screening of the award-winning documentary Venizelos: The Struggle for Asia
Minor on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
The event was held under the auspices of the Embassy of Greece. Her Excellency,
Ambassador Aikaterini Nassika, shared a personal connection to history, revealing that her grandfather had the honor of hosting Eleftherios Venizelos overnight at his home during the Balkan War campaign.
Professor Ismini Lamb, Director of Modern Greek Studies at Georgetown—the longest
continuously operating Greek Studies program in North America—welcomed the audience.
In her opening remarks, the President of the Pancretan Association of America, Mrs. Diane
Kounalakis, stated: “It is truly an honor to represent all the members of the PAA, who stand proud of the outstanding leadership of our Cretan statesman, Eleftherios Venizelos. His legacy is a true testament to leadership and diplomacy that has stood the test of time.”
The President of the Venizelos Foundation USA and the President of the World Council of
Cretans, Mr. Nickos Kastrinakis, had the privilege of honoring Mr. George Marafatsos for his outstanding support in the restoration of the historic statue of Eleftherios Venizelos at the Embassy of Greece last July. He stated: “It is remarkable to be here at Georgetown
University, an institution that has trained extraordinary politicians over the years, to speak
about a remarkable leader and statesman, Eleftherios Venizelos.”
Professor Christopher Lamb, co-author (with Professor Ismini Lamb) of The Gentle
American: George Horton’s Odyssey and His True Account of the Smyrna Catastrophe, shared insights from his decade-long research on George Horton, the U.S. Consul in Smyrna during its tragic destruction. His remarks provided valuable historical perspectives, further contextualizing the documentary’s themes.
Following the screening, the audience enthusiastically participated in a discussion, posing
questions about both the historical events depicted and the mission of the Venizelos
Foundation. Professor Christopher Lamb and Mr. Nickos Kastrinakis offered in-depth
responses.
The event was honored by the presence of distinguished guests, including His Excellency,
the Ambassador of Cyprus, Mr. Savvas Evangelou, and The Honorable Consul General of
Greece, Mr. Mihalis Skopelitis. Representing the Hellenic Defense Delegation to the U.S.
were: Honorable Colonel Odysseas Papaevangelou, Defense Attaché, Honorable Captain
Nikolaos Lazakis, Naval Attaché, Honorable Colonel Ioannis Markakis, Air Attaché
Honorable Lt. Colonel Evangelos Zacharis, Army Attaché. Among the many esteemed
attendees from academia and the greater Washington, D.C., community were Mr. Andy
Manatos, Mr. Nick Larigakis from the American Hellenic Institute (AHI), and Ms. Theodora
Petrakis from the local Pancretan Association of America Chapter. Special thanks were
also extended to Ms. Maria Plevrakis and Mr. Manos Coutoulakis from the chapter for their
invaluable support in organizing the event.
The evening concluded with a reception, graciously hosted by Georgetown University’s
Modern Greek Studies Program, allowing attendees to continue their discussions and
reflections on this pivotal moment in history.
Georgetown University has long been a powerhouse in American and global politics,
producing influential leaders and serving as a hub for political discourse. Members of the
Georgetown community maintain a strong presence in Congress and the White House,
ranking No. 1 for the number of chiefs of staff serving in Congress and No. 2 as a top
producer of congressional members and staffers. Notably, former U.S. Presidents Bill
Clinton and Lyndon B. Johnson, along with distinguished figures such as Madeleine
Albright and Henry Kissinger, are among those connected to the university. With its prime
location in Washington, D.C., Georgetown maintains strong ties to the U.S. government,
international organizations, and think tanks, reinforcing its role as a breeding ground for
future policymakers, diplomats, and world leaders.
The film is a production of the National Research Foundation “Eleftherios K. Venizelos” and
is based on the book Eleftherios Venizelos: The Man, The Leader by the Foundation’s
Director, Mr. Nikos Papadakis-Papadis. With English subtitles, the documentary—directed
by Nikos Dayandas—brings to life the extraordinary journey of Eleftherios Venizelos, one of
modern Greece’s greatest statesmen. Through dramatized scenes, rare archival footage,
and expert interviews, the film vividly portrays his leadership during the defining decade of
the Balkan Wars, World War I, and the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923.
New York NY
Eleftherios K. Venizelos Memorial
With great participation from Greek-American organizations, the memory of Eleftherios
Venizelos was honored in New York during the memorial service held on Sunday, March
16, 2025, at the Holy Church of Saints Catherine and George in Astoria. The event was attended by the Consul General of Greece in New York, Ms. Iphigenia Kanara, the President of the Pancretan Association of America, Ms. Diane (Diamanta) Kounalakis, as well as numerous representatives from national and local organizations from Greece and Cyprus active in the greater New York area.
During the small reception that followed at the Cretan Association “Minos” of New York, the President of the American Branch of the “Eleftherios Venizelos” Foundation and President
of the World Council of Cretans, Mr. Nikos Kastrinakis, expressed his gratitude to Consul
General Ms. Kanara, the President of the Pancretan Association of America, Ms. Diane
(Diamanta) Kounalakis, and all the organizations that honored the memory of Eleftherios
Venizelos with their presence.
He highlighted the timeless significance of Eleftherios Venizelos’ teachings and the
historical importance of honoring the memory of the Ethnarch by national and local
organizations in New York.
Following the warm address by Consul General Ms. Iphigenia Kanara, Mr. Kastrinakis
extended his thanks to the Treasurer of the World Council of Cretans, Ms. Nikoleta
Pigounaki, and the Secretary of the American Branch of the “Eleftherios Venizelos”
Foundation, Ms. Maria Stratoudakis. He also congratulated the Pancretan Association of
America and the Folklore Group “Psiloritis” from Chania for their significant youth seminar
and their contribution.
