With a strong sense of responsibility, the outgoing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Tasos Chatzivasileiou, formally handed over his duties to the new Deputy Minister, Mr. Harry Theoharis. The handover ceremony took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with both officials highlighting the continuity and strategic importance of economic diplomacy and extroversion for Greece.
Statement by Mr. Harry Theoharis:
“Assuming the responsibilities of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs is a great honor and, at the same time, a significant responsibility. I sincerely thank the Prime Minister for his trust and commit to serving our national interests with dedication.
We will continue with consistency and a clear plan to strengthen Greece’s international presence, build bridges of cooperation, and fully leverage the opportunities of foreign policy to the benefit of our country and its citizens.
I am taking on the crucial portfolio of Economic Diplomacy and Extroversion—an area where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under the leadership of my predecessor Mr. Tasos Chatzivasileiou, has delivered substantial and measurable results. Our priorities include attracting foreign investment, supporting Greece’s export-driven economy, and promoting our country as a reliable and innovative partner on the international stage.
With full respect for the legacy of my predecessors and a strong belief in the principles of modern diplomacy, we move forward with determination and steady steps.
Alongside the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. George Gerapetritis—whom I deeply respect and with whom I share a spirit of close cooperation—we will continue the important work already underway. Our goal is to further strengthen Greece’s global standing and advance our national objectives with consistency, credibility, and vision.”
Statement by Mr. Tasos Chatzivasileiou:
“I have handed over the responsibilities of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, in charge of Economic Diplomacy and Extroversion, to my colleague, Harry Theoharis, with a sense of responsibility and emotion.
Over the past six months, we have worked diligently and methodically to enhance Greece’s international economic presence and build new bridges of cooperation between Greek enterprises and the global market.
I had the honor of representing Greece in numerous missions abroad, highlighting our country’s investment opportunities and forging strategic partnerships.
Together with partner countries, we co-organized high-level business fora, advancing economic diplomacy in practice. We supported exports and entrepreneurship and designed key reforms in the operations of Enterprise Greece and Export Credit Greece.
Through the introduction of the legislative framework for the Foreign Direct Investment Screening Mechanism, we established—for the first time—institutional guarantees of transparency, security, and expedited procedures for international investors, thus strengthening the country’s image.
In parallel, we facilitated Greek exports and foreign investments by launching the platform myOEY.live.gov.gr, which allows entrepreneurs and investors to schedule digital appointments with the Ministry’s Economic and Commercial Affairs Offices (OCEs) without physical presence.
I would like to sincerely thank Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for his trust, as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Gerapetritis, for his unwavering support of all our initiatives. I also owe special thanks to my fellow Deputy Ministers—Alexandra Papadopoulou, Yiannis Loverdos, and George Kotsiras—as well as to Secretary General Dimitris Skalkos. Above all, I express my deepest gratitude to the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who stand out for their competence and professionalism.
I wish every success to my friend and colleague, Harry Theoharis. I am confident that he will continue our work with determination and dedication for the benefit of our country.”
