Greek Embassy in Berlin ‘headless’ due to politics
Even as relations between Athens and Berlin come under strain due to tough bailout negotiations, Greece’s embassy in Germany has been without a representative for months.
The embassy in Berlin has been headless since the current envoy was called back two months ago due to apparent problems in communicating with the Greek Foreign Ministry. There were also issues with the previous government’s diplomat in Berlin.
The current ambassador, Panos Kalogeropoulos, was called back to Athens more than two months ago after Greek authorities appeared unsatisfied with his performance. According to one version of events, the envoy allegedly disputed some decisions by Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias. Other sources claim Kalogeropoulos was unable to create the network of contacts required to gain a satisfactory grasp of German foreign policy.
There had been problems at the embassy before Kalogeropoulos assumed his post in January. His predecessor, Giorgos Zografos, quit in September last year after being left out of meetings during a visit to Berlin by then Premier Antonis Samaras.
Kalogeropoulos, who is expected to assume his next post in New Delhi, is to replaced in Berlin by Theodoros Daskarolis, who is currently stationed in Malta, Kathimerini understands.
