Public Lecture by H.E. Grigorios Vassiloconstandakis, Ambassador of Greece to Bulgaria

Thursday, 09 May 2019 12:14

Bilateral Diplomacy between Neighbouring Countries was the topic of the public lecture that H.E. Grigorios Vassiloconstandakis, Ambassador of Greece to Bulgaria, delivered in the Ceremonial Hall at the invitation of the Foreign Languages and Applied Linguistics Department. It was the last of the cycle of lectures entitled The Role of the Ambassador held in the period March-May with the participation of the Italian Ambassador H.E. Stefano Baldi and the Czech Ambassador H.E. Dušan Štrauch.

The event was opened by Prof. Dr. Daniela Koh-Kozhuharova, Head of the Foreign Languages and Applied Linguistics Department who presented the guest as a diplomat with huge and longstanding experience in the career. He has graduated from the Athens University, Faculty of Law, French Institute of Athens and the Harvard University. He has participated in diplomatic missions in Istanbul, Paris, Pristina, Brussels, Cairo and has also been Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Greece to Romania. He is a holder of lots of decorations and awards, pointed out Prof. Koh-Kozhuharova.

Prof. Dr. Daniela Koh-Kozhuharova and H.E. Grigorios Vassiloconstandakis
Prof. Dr. Polya Katsamunska, Vice-Dean of the Management and Administration Faculty (on the left)

As a model of successful bilateral diplomacy between neighbouring countries H.E. Grigorios Vassiloconstandakis pointed out the longstanding fruitful cooperation between Bulgaria and Greece. The relations between both countries dated back 11 centuries ago have passed over periods of wars, competitions and long-lasting peace. These are relations between good neighbours and the good neighbor is a member of the family, said the Ambassador. He defined the partnership between Bulgaria and Greece over the years as positive and paid attention to its exceptional importance for the stability not only in the Balkan region but also in Europe.  

H.E. Grigorios Vassiloconstandakis

In the diplomacy the embassy is a small part of a certain country and the role of the ambassador for the good bilateral relations development is exceptionally responsible, pointed out H.E. Vassiloconstandakis. According to him the economic diplomacy is a powerful factor for the successful development of relations between the neighbouring countries such as Bulgaria and Greece. The Ambassador examined various fields of bilateral cooperation as well as the potential for future development and outlined his convenience in the young generation. The construction of Greece-Bulgaria Intersystem Gas Connection gives an opportunity for natural gas supply diversification and the energy cooperation as well as the economic cooperation is especially important for the good relations between countries, said the guest-lecturer.

In the Ceremonial Hall

At the event attended lecturers and students from the UNWE, representatives of the Bulgarian Diplomatic Society as well as H. E. Stefano Baldi. The lecture provoked great interest and lots of questions were asked by the audience. The Greek Ambassador answered all the questions basing on his huge diplomatic experience.

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