Athens , 25 August 2009

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This is an important day for the Foreign Ministry, because its administrative leadership is changing: the highest administrative position – Secretary General – is being taken on by Ambassador Aristidis Sandis. He is succeeding Ambassador Aristidis Agathoklis, who – after a thirty-year diplomatic career full of challenges, distinctions and successes – is withdrawing from active diplomatic service.

Each of us has their own reasons for believing that the void being left by Aristidis Agathoklis in the Greek Diplomatic Service will be hard to fill. The unique ethos, frankness and integrity of his character, his independent and creative intellect and his effectiveness, in combination with his profound love for Greece, are all things that guided him in all of the positions of responsibility that he has held. They are the credentials that helped him carry out all of the demanding missions he undertook during his long career, always to the benefit of the country and its goals.

And these missions were not a few. In every post and position in which he was called upon to serve, he managed not only to work seriously and effectively, but something else, as well: he left his personal mark – a mark of insightfulness and pragmatism – on every position of responsibility he has held to date.

I am certain that he, like all of his colleagues, singles out his term as Greece’s Permanent Representative to the European Union – which in fact coincided with Greece’s EU Presidency in 2003. At that time he literally proved to be the “right person in the right job”, because during the preparations for the presidency as well as during the presidency itself, he assisted decisively towards a smooth and successful Greek presidency. Through his work, he honoured Greece, and he has earned everyone’s recognition for this contribution.

I would like to believe that among the many important stages in his career, his most recent position – that of Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry – holds a special place with him.

This position gave him the opportunity to once again make his unique personal mark.

But what I want to stress above all with regard to Ambassador Agathoklis’ term as Secretary General is that he worked systematically to substantially upgrade the Diplomatic Service. The implementation of the Foreign Ministry’s new statutes began under his leadership and guidance; statutes aimed at developing the Diplomatic Service into a strong, flexible and effective tool for strengthening the country’s international position; into a power booster, a deterrent force and producer of wealth for the benefit of our homeland. With the methodicalness and resolve that discern him, he helped to increase the diplomatic service’s effectiveness, raising ever higher the bar of satisfactory performance for prominent members of the Diplomatic Service who – from positions of responsibility in the Central Service and as key advisors to the political leadership – now more than ever before provide their invaluable services toward maximising the desired result.

At the same time, he put particular emphasis on Greece’s being present and helpful during crises in our region and further afield. During his two years as Secretary General, Aristidis Agathoklis handled critical and delicate operations like the L’Aquila earthquake and the recent arrest of a Greek journalist in Iran. Nor do any of us forget that under his coordination, Greece was the first country to arrive in the Lebanon war zone in the summer of 2006, providing humanitarian aid and evacuating Greeks as well as citizens of other countries.

Also during his time in office, the Greek Foreign Ministry carried out an important shift in the direction of economic diplomacy, reflecting the needs of the current international state of affairs as well as the needs and goals of our country.

Making economic diplomacy a focus of the Ministry’s mission and putting it at the core of every Greek diplomat’s activities from this time on, he significantly altered the Ministry’s course.

And it is certain that in the years to come this new course will impact our country and its foreign policy, as well as the diplomatic service and the people who serve in it. He also contributed significantly to improving the position of the Greek diplomat. Important recent decisions worked in this direction: the increases in income in the last year are anything but negligible, particularly in the light of the unfavourable economic state of affairs.

He also promoted regulations that redress longstanding inequities, like abolition of taxation on overseas benefits, which will go into effect at the beginning of the new year. What no one can deny is that all of Aristidis Agathoklis’ initiatives and actions originated in his profound confidence in the potential and contribution of Greece’s diplomatic personnel.

The body of work that Aristidis Agathoklis’ is leaving behind justifies my decision to put my trust – in action and not in words – in Greek diplomats.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

You know as well as I that we have before us a particularly demanding six months. We are entering a critical time for our country, as all of the major issues in Greek diplomacy are coming to important turning points.

With regard to the FYROM name issue, the negotiations under the UN are entering a new phase. We have to do everything in our power to get the best possible result.

The Gruevski government – holding grand openings and trying to pick history’s pocket – thinks that it can rewrite the past. It is pushing the people of our neighbouring country towards fanaticism and bigotry, distancing them from their Euroatlantic perspective. Greece is participating in the negotiations in a constructive spirit, with the aim of reaching a mutually acceptable solution without winners and losers.

This is also the message of the international community, the European Union and NATO to Skopje. The message formulated thanks to our joint efforts. Our positions are well known, as are our inviolable red lines.

A solution with a compound name, with a geographical qualifier, for use by everyone. A solution that benefits everyone. A solution for a future of cooperation and security for our region and our peoples.

On the Cyprus issue, the negotiations are entering a critical phase. Despite difficulties and obstacles, the talks are moving ahead. It is a difficult process and the negotiations are meeting obstacles, but there are prerequisites for a solution. This solution – a bizonal, bicommunal federation – must be just, viable and functional, without outmoded systems of guarantees.

It must be based on the resolutions of the UN Security Council. It must respect the principles and values of the European Union and implement the community Acquis. President Christofias and the Republic of Cyprus will need our support and help. And we will offer it to them – each of us, unsparingly – so that we can jointly achieve the best possible result, to the benefit of the Cypriot people and the reunification of the island. Turkey – who, with the presence of its occupation forces, determines the extent of the flexibility of the Turkish Cypriot side in the negotiations – still has time to show that its declarations concerning zero problems with its neighbours are not just words.

By the end of the year, Turkey’s compliance with the Ankara Protocol and its obligation to normalize its relations with the Republic of Cyprus will be evaluated. Turkey must realise that there will be no special treatment. Agreements must be honoured. Otherwise, there are consequences.

There is no Europe à la carte for anyone. Meeting of commitments and exhibiting true European conduct are Turkey’s only path to Europe.

The clear policy of ‘full compliance, full accession’ determines our stance – without deviations, without blank cheques.

I am well aware of the struggle being mounted daily by dozens of our diplomats who are monitoring every facet of Greek-Turkish and EU-Turkish relations, who record, analyze and make recommendations on our policy and undertake to implement our policy successfully.

I know how hard you are working and that there are those who flippantly try to belittle your efforts. I thank you for your efforts, though I am well aware that you see this as a sacred duty.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We have a very demanding time before us. A time during which we will have to do our very best if we are to meet the challenges before us successfully.

And I am please that at this juncture the administrative leadership of the Foreign Ministry is being taken up by Ambassador Aristidis Sandis. An experienced diplomat, a person who is respected and appreciated by all of his colleagues. With the conscientiousness and good judgement for which he is discernible, I am certain that he will continue the work of his predecessor and, in the same manner, put his personal signature on the smooth and efficient operation of the Ministry.

I think his time as Greece’s Permanent Representative to the OSCE will prove particularly useful, especially at a time when our country holds the Chairmanship of the Organization and ahead of the climax of our Chairmanship at the December ministerial.

With these thoughts I would like to express my warm thanks to Ambassador Agathoklis for his contribution and the close collaboration we had during these years.

Dear Aristidis,

You have my heartfelt wishes for health and success in your future plans. I have a feeling that – whether you like it or not – retirement will not succeed in keeping you far from the Ministry’s affairs. People like you, with the courage of conviction – people who have learned to defend what they think is right – always have something to offer to their country and its goals.

Finally, ladies and gentlemen, it is a pleasure to congratulate and welcome the new Secretary General, Mr. Sandis.

I look forward to productive cooperation and I wish him strength and success in the new, demanding duties he is undertaking.

Thank you.