"The Greek-American relationship has a strategic nature and is of vital importance for developments in the Southeastern Europe region, as well as the Mediterranean," underlined National Defence minister Evangelos Meimarakis, speaking yesterday in Washington at a conference on Euro-Atlantic security and Greece-US cooperation.

A 17-year-old Greek-American woman, Sophia Goumakos - a graduate of St. Francis school in New York - is among pupils who contracted swine flu, but has recovered.

Ten volunteers, representatives of major Greek-American organisations and members of the Council for Hellenes Abroad (CHA) region of United States, are attending special educational seminars relating to declarations of property ownership to the Greek National Land Registry at its offices in Athens.

A crowd of about 100,000 Greek Americans waving Greek flags marched on Sunday, April 26, 2009 at the annual Greek Independence Day parade in Manhattan, under clear skies and record high temperatures.

Prior to the Greek Independence Day Parade of Fifth Avenue in New York, Greek Defense Minister Meimarakis addressed a message of unity and love from Greece at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Aghia Triada.