A ceremonial handover at Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs will take place Monday, Jan. 20, at 12:30 p.m., marking the transition between outgoing Deputy Foreign Minister Kostas Fragogiannis and his successor, Tasos Chatzivasileiou.
Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis will oversee the event.
Mr. Fragogiannis resigned from his position due to personal reasons, paving the way for Chatzivasileiou, an experienced diplomat and trusted advisor to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Chatzivasileiou has served as the secretary for International Relations and European Union Affairs for the New Democracy party and has played a pivotal role in shaping Greece’s foreign policy.
Born on Aug. 26, 1981, Chatzivasileiou is a political scientist specializing in international relations and holds a doctorate in political science and history from Panteion University in Athens.
Fluent in English, French, Turkish, and Spanish, he has represented Greece in numerous international forums. His past roles include secretary of the Parliament’s National Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee, chair of the Special Committee on Disability and Discrimination in the Council of Europe, and first vice president of the European Affairs Committee in the Hellenic Parliament.
Chatzivasileiou gained prominence during a diplomatic incident in London when former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak canceled a meeting with Mitsotakis over comments regarding the Parthenon Marbles. Chatzivasileiou defended Greece’s position in international and domestic media, showcasing his expertise and diplomacy.
As he steps into his new role, Chatzivasileiou is expected to leverage his extensive experience and skills to address Greece’s foreign policy challenges in a rapidly evolving global landscape.