H.E. Konstantina Athanasiadou

Ambassador of Greece in Canada

Biography

Born 17th April 1958, in Athens Greece, Ambassador Athanassiadou has a degree in Philosophy, Classical Studies, Linguistics and French Literature, from the Faculty of Philosophy –National Kapodistrian (Athens) University, and a degree in Medieval and Modern Greek Studies and History, from the Faculty of Philosophy – Ioannina University.

She successfully concludedher entry exams and joined the Foreign Ministry of Greece as Attaché of Embassy in 1986.

Having served in various positions in Athens at this early part of her career, she was appointedSecretary of Embassy in Moscow, in 1988. After completion of her term and upon returning to Athens, she joined the First Political Department of the Foreign Ministry for the former Soviet Unionstates. Promoted First Secretary of Embassy in 1994, she was appointed Head of the Repatriation Unit at the Political Director’s Office, while alsobecomingmember of the Executive Board of the Foundation of Repatriated Greeks.

In November 1995 she was appointed First Secretary at the Embassy of Greece in London and, in June 1999, promoted to Second Counsellor.

In years 1996, 1997, and 1998 she attended the First Committee on Disarmament and International Security, ofthe 51st, 52nd and 53rd, respectively, UN General Assembly Sessions.

In October 2000, as First Counsellor, she was appointed Head of the Deputy Foreign Minister Diplomatic Cabinet. During this period, she participated in a series of official venues of bilateral or multilateral nature worldwide, and had the pleasure to visit for the first time Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto.

In August 2002 she was appointed Consul General of Greece in Alexandria (Egypt) and, in September 2004, transferred to the Permanent Representation of the Hellenic Republic to the EU in Brussels, where she eventually became Head of EU External Relations and Enlargement Division. Upon return to Athens in September 2008, she was appointed Director of the EU External Relations and Enlargement Division of the Foreign Ministry

In November 2010 she became Deputy Permanent Representative of the Hellenic Republic to the United Nations and other International Organizations, including WTO, in Geneva. She was promoted to Minister Plenipotentiary Second Class, in March 2013. In 2014, she was appointed Head of the Liaison Office of the Hellenic Republic in Pristina. In July 2015 she was promoted to Minister Plenipotentiary First Class.

Upon return to Athens in April 2018, she was appointed Chief of Protocol of the Foreign Ministry. In August 2018, Ambassador K.Athanassiadou was appointed General Director of International Economic Affairs of the Foreign Ministry.

Monday November 30, 2020, Mrs Konstantina Athanassiadou presented her Letters of Credence to the Governor General of Canada, the Right Honourable Julie Payette. She is now accredited Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary of Greece to Canada.

Ambassador K. Athanassiadou is a Grand Commander of the Order of the Phoenix of the Hellenic Republic and also has a number of distinctions over the years. She is particularly honoured to also wear the St. Mark Cross of the Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa

She speaks English, French, Spanish and Russian. Ambassador K. Athanassiadou is a proud mother of a son, and is a keen admirer of art and knowledge.