Statements of the new and outgoing Foreign Ministers, Nikos Kotzias and Petros Molyviatis, at the Foreign Ministry handover ceremony (23 September 2015)

P. MOLYVIATIS: I express my congratulations to the Minister on his success and his reappointment to the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs, and I wish him every success in his new – old for him – difficult duties. Thank you. I wish you success.

N. KOTZIAS: Thank you very much, Mr. Minister. I thanked the Minister for the work he carried out during the short duration of the caretaker government, and I asked him, whenever I have issues that require his wisdom, if I can look forward to his thoughts and his good will. I thank him for consenting.

P. MOLYVIATIS: Thank you very much. If you will just allow me to add a few words for my dear colleagues at the Foreign Ministry. I think that, after 60 years, I have gained the right and the honor to consider myself their colleague. I have said a number of final farewells to them. I think this really is the final farewell. I want to thank them for their professionalism, for their effectiveness. The Greek Foreign Ministry has personnel that would do honor to any Diplomatic Service of any country. And the Foreign Ministry staff, whatever branch they are in, carry out their duties with professionalism and selflessness, regardless of the adverse conditions in which they often find themselves. I congratulate them and thank them from my heart.