FM; Greece is at the forefront of action, with diplomatic footprint

Greece is “at the forefront of action, with a very large diplomatic footprint, at the UN Security Council as of January 1,” Greek Foreign Affairs Minister George Gerapetritis said on Wednesday, during the New Year’s cake-cutting ceremony.

Greek citizens should feel safe despite times of great uncertainty globally, because the government is exercising a principled foreign policy, allowing Greece to have good relations with the entire world and moving the country forward to higher levels faster and more strongly, the minister said.

Gerapetritis noted that his goal during his term of office was to focus on human resources, and he reviewed actions taken to improve bonuses, hire more staff and diplomats, and upgrade technology at the ministry. Actions include 100 new personnel, staffing either administrative or diplomatic positions at Greek authorities abroad.

The FM also spoke of upgrading facilities abroad. He said that when he assumed his portfolio, “60% of consular fees were included in the state budget. Today, it is foreseen that 60% will be allocated to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, and as of December 2024, an additional 10% is a special resource to maintain the facilities of diplomatic missions. That way, we will be able to be both proud of our personnel as well as proud of our facilities abroad.” The maintenance and upgrade of facilities abroad include key embassies such as Bern, Canberra, Madrid, the Hague, Washington, and Ankara.

Gerapetritis also said great effort was expanded to hold the needed staff councils leading to promotions, and to upgrade ministry facilities in Athens, as well as the ministry’s online site and telephone system. In addition, the diplomatic Academy was upgraded with key changes, ensuring it provides a contemporay, extroverted, dynamic diplomatic training, turning Greek diplomats Greece’s flagship abroad.

“In 2024, we moved by plan. We had the National Strategic Extroversion Plan, more timely than ever. We had the Strategic Plan for Greeks Abroad. We had the Equality Action Plan. In 2025, we expect to have our new Public Diplomacy National Strategic Plan. And we shall also have our new organizational charts, both for the Central Service, as well as for services abroad,” FM Gerapetritis concluded.

SOURCE; ANA-MPA