U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-6) welcomed the Greek ambassador to the U.S. to her district of Flushing, Queens.
On Tuesday, Apr. 23, Meng and Ambassador Ekaterini Nassika held a luncheon for the local Greek community, where they spoke of the importance of U.S. and Greek relations. Other officials were in attendance, including Dinos Konstantinou, the consul general of Greece in New York.
After the luncheon, Nassika toured the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Shrine Church at 196-10 Northern Blvd.
Nassika, a career diplomat, traveled to Queens from the Greek embassy located in Washington, D.C. Nassika said that she enjoyed meeting with the local Greek American community in Flushing. She added the importance of strengthening the diplomatic relationship between the U.S. and Greece. “We both highlighted the importance of further strengthening the ties between Greece and the U.S. and working closely together in this direction. The contribution of members of the Congress in promoting bilateral cooperation between the U.S. and close partners and allies, like Greece, is always of significance,” she said.
In November 2023, Nassika was appointed as Greece’s Ambassador to the U.S. after serving as the Ambassador of Greece to the Russian Federation. She started her diplomatic career in 1985, working at the U.S. desk for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens.
Meng, who serves on the Congressional Hellenic Caucus, was first introduced to Nassika last month at an introductory meeting at Capitol Hill. Meng said it was an honor and a privilege to have Nassika visit Queens. She added that she was proud to represent a multitude of Greek constitutions in Flushing and was working to nurture a relationship between the U.S. and Greece. “Greece is at the forefront of tackling many shared challenges from strengthening democracy and tackling climate change to helping to support our allies Israel and Ukraine and bring stability to the Eastern Mediterranean,” she said. “I am excited to continue working with Ambassador Nassika and I’m thrilled that I was able to introduce her to the vibrant and thriving Greek American community in my district. She is welcome in Queens anytime.”
