V. KASKARELIS: Dear Minister, let me welcome you to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In the short period that I’ve had the privilege of serving as Foreign Minister of the Caretaker Government, and in the context of my transitional role, my primary concern has been to maintain, strengthen and establish friendly channels of communication with my foreign counterparts, including, primarily, Cyprus, but also Türkiye, Egypt and other neighbouring countries. Also, to represent the country at bilateral and multilateral levels, to ensure the administrative continuity and organize the elections for the Diaspora Greeks.
None of this would have been possible - and I want to emphasize this - without the staff of all the branches of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whom I would like to thank warmly.
Minister, you have been called upon to take the reins of Greece’s foreign policy at a critical time, as war raging in Europe, in a geopolitically sensitive region and with a series of crises underway which may, as occurred in 2001, drastically change the international scene.
I am convinced, however, that with your training and skills, as well as the invaluable assistance of the Foreign Ministry personnel, you will advance our interests and enhance our country's role.
To conclude, Minister, I’d like to make a comment about my second home - as I said at the handover ceremony - where I spent 39 years of my life.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is staffed with professionals of the greatest caliber in all of its branches, dealing with political affairs, economic diplomacy, public diplomacy, consular services and, of course, administrative support.
However, the Ministry’s personnel requires proper tools in order to carry out its tasks. This entails new technologies, less bureaucracy, increased staff in the administrative services and, last but not least - and I emphasize this because it is extremely important and absolutely necessary - a significantly increased budget.
Before I conclude, I’d like to thank all the members of my diplomatic office as well as the Director, Ms. Katerina Tzima, for their significant support this month.
Once again, dear George, I welcome you and wish you the best of success.
Thank you very much.
G. GERAPETRITIS: I’d like to thank the Minister, Ambassador Vassilis Kaskarelis, for the reception and, most importantly, for once again offering his valuable services to his country. To his first home, may I say, as antagonistic as that may sound to his family. Ambassador Kaskarelis is one of the country’s wisest diplomats the country has. We will need his wisdom in the future, and I hope to always be able to count on his advice and ideas.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the former Minister, Mr. Nikos Dendias, for his undoubtedly successful tenure in this Ministry, which has resulted in the strengthening of our country's security, prosperity and international standing.
It is a great honour for me to take over the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A Ministry-institution that is inextricably linked to the very foundation of the Greek state. I am fully aware of the magnitude of the responsibility I am assuming.
In the effort to implement this extremely important and difficult task, I have the great fortune and pleasure of having three prominent personalities as my companions.
Ms. Alexandra Papadopoulou, Ambassador of Greece to the USA, with a long career in Greek diplomacy, in extremely critical positions, and with in-depth knowledge of foreign policy issues. As of today, she takes over as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
I’d also like to take this opportunity to mention that a very important policy is being developed today, which is that in critical positions that require continuity, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Ministry of Interior, there should be Deputy Ministers from within the Service from within the Ministry, so that the continuity of the state and of foreign policy is reflected.
I welcome Mr. Kostas Fragogiannis, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, who will continue his successful course in the Ministry in the field of Economic Diplomacy and Openness. Having worked for more than 30 years in the field of developing the private sector on international level, during his tenure he set specific development and outward-looking objectives which he implemented in full and will continue to do so.
Lastly, the Deputy Minister, Mr. Giorgos Kotsiras, who will have the portfolio of Public Diplomacy and Greeks Abroad. Mr. Kotsiras, holding a PhD in European Law from the Law School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, a student of mine - and it is a great honour for any teacher to see his students progress - and now my colleague, who has served as Deputy Minister of Justice in charge of International Cooperation and Human Rights. He takes on a highly significant portfolio for Greeks abroad, both in terms of promoting the interests of the Greek Diaspora and the country's public image. I am confident that he will carry out this important and challenging mission.
It goes without saying that the task that the political leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be called upon to carry out cannot be successful unless it is supported by the Diplomatic Corps and the Service.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a vibrant organization, composed of highly qualified, trained and skilled staff who go above and beyond by supporting the positions of the Greek Government in Greece and abroad.
I want to assure you that my cooperation, as well as that of the entire political leadership, with the Foreign Ministry Service will be daily and direct. I look forward to this cooperation and will rely on this pillar.
Greek foreign policy has been and will remain a principled policy, a policy based on International Law, inspired by the principles of the United Nations Charter and aims at regional cooperation and stability.
These principles, which govern the post-war architecture of the world, are being challenged today in multiple ways due to the stormy geopolitical developments. It is our duty to defend our sovereignty and our national existence on a daily and non-negotiable basis. I assure you that we will do so to the utmost.
You will allow me today not to elaborate further on issues related to foreign policy. We will have the opportunity to do so very soon, in the context of the government's policy statements before the Hellenic Parliament.
I would just like to take this opportunity to state that both I, personally and the Prime Minister, in the very vein of supporting our national interests, will place ourselves at the service of the homeland.
I warmly thank you and wish a good start for all of us.
V. KASKARELIS: If I may, off protocol, I’d like to take the floor again for just a moment to thank the Minister.
G. GERAPETRITIS: I will speak again as well.
V. KASKARELIS: And this is how diplomacy courtesy begins and we will not finish until late in the evening. But I wanted to thank the Minister for his very warm and kind words, which, although I have been in diplomacy for 40 years, touched me and made me blush. I would also like to take this opportunity, since you have introduced the Deputy Ministers, to welcome them to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Thank you very much.
G. GERAPETRITIS: Warm thanks to all of you. Thank you very much.
June 27, 2023