From Ekathimerini:  Greece’s ambassador to Bulgaria, Thrasyvoulos Stamatopoulos, was appointed to the post of NATO assistant secretary general for political affairs and security policy on Friday.

From Greek Embassy in Bulgaria:  Thrasyvoulos Terry Stamatopoulos, Ambassador of Greece in Bulgaria (2012 – )

I. Education

• Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece: 1970-1972, School of Economic & Political Sciences
• London School of Economics, London, England: B.Sc(Econ.) International Relations
• McGill University, Montreal, Canada: M.A. Political Science International Relations
• Georgia State University, Atlanta, USA: M.A. Communication

II. Professional Experience

1979-1980:  Deputy Director, Political Affairs Direction, Ministry for Macedonia & Thrace
1980-1981:  Cabinet of Foreign Affairs Minister
1981-1987:  Consul, Atlanta USA (Established the Consulate and organised its operations)
1987-1991:  Consul General, Alexandria Egypt
1991-1995:  Director of Political Affairs, Ministry for Macedonia & Thrace
1995-2000:  Permanent Representation to the E.U., Ηead of External Affairs section of the Representation.
2000-2004:  Minister Plenipotentiary, Deputy Permanent Representative of Greece to NATO 
2004-2007:  Director General for European Union Affairs, M.F.A Athens
2007-January 2012: Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Greece to NATO

III. Languages:  Greek, English, French

IV. Civil status:  Married to Elizabeth, father of two sons and a daughter.

Decorations:

•    Grand Commander of the Order of the Phoenix (Greece)
•    Commander of the Order of Danebrog (Denmark)
•    Commander of the Order of Merito Civil (Spain)
•    Medal of Gratitude (Albania)

NATO Experience:

I have done two postings and have spent a total of about 9 years working at this Organization. As a result I have an intimate knowledge of the structures and of the working methods of NATO. During my tenure I have been closely involved i.a. with the development of NATO partnerships. I helped draft the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative decision, having taken part in the Istanbul Summit in 2004. As a member of the North Atlantic Council I have visited the Gulf States that are NATO partners, including Abu Dhabi in 2010.

Moreover, during my term as Ambassador, I worked with colleagues from the region in the context of the OUP operation concerning Libya, and played an instrumental role in the agreement between the Alliance and the United  Arab Emirates, on the establishment of the latter’s mission to NATO.

Finally, having left NATO only recently, I am still in touch and on a first name basis with the current key players, including the Secretary General, the Deputy Secretary General, the Director of the Private Office, the Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs, SACEUR etc., which would greatly facilitate the promotion of closer relations with the Organization.

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