Petros Molyviatis

Petros Molyviatis Πέτρος Μολυβιάτης
Minister for Foreign Affairs
In office 28 August 2015 – 23 September 2015
Prime Minister	Vassiliki Thanou-Christophilou
Preceded by	Nikos Kotzias
Succeeded by	Nikos Kotzias
In office 17 May 2012 – 21 June 2012
Prime Minister	Panagiotis Pikrammenos
Preceded by	Stavros Dimas
Succeeded by	Dimitris Avramopoulos
In office 10 March 2004 – 15 February 2006
Prime Minister	Kostas Karamanlis
Preceded by	Tassos Yiannitsis
Succeeded by	Dora Bakoyannis
Personal details
Born	12 June 1928 Chios, Greece
Political party	New Democracy
Alma mater	University of Athens

Petros G. Molyviatis (Greek: Πέτρος Γ. Μολυβιάτης; born 12 June 1928) is a Greek politician and diplomat who, since 28 August 2015, has been the Minister for Foreign Affairs in the caretaker cabinet of Vassiliki Thanou-Christophilou.^[1] He had previously served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 17 May to 21 June 2012 in the caretaker cabinet of Panagiotis Pikrammenos, and from 10 March 2004 to 15 February 2006 in the first cabinet of Kostas Karamanlis.^[2]

Early life and education

Born in Chios, he studied Law at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and entered the Greek Foreign Ministry after graduation.

Career

As a career diplomat, he served in the Permanent Delegation of Greece to the United Nations in New York and NATO in Brussels. He also served in the Greek embassies in Moscow, Pretoria and Ankara. From 1974 to 1980, Molyviatis was diplomatic advisor and director general of the political cabinet of Prime Minister Constantine Karamanlis. During the terms of office of Constantine Karamanlis as Greek president from 1980 to 1985 and 1990 to 1995, he was secretary general of the Presidential office.^[3]

Molyviatis with then-President of Greece Karolos Papoulias.

In the 1996 and 2000 legislative elections he was elected a member of the Greek parliament for the New Democracy party. He was appointed Greek Foreign Minister in May 2004 following the victory of New Democracy party in the legislative election of 7 March 2004.^[3] As Minister for Foreign Affairs, Molyviatis was a signatory to the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, which was never fully ratified and never entered into force.^[4]

His name was mentioned as a potential candidate for prime minister of Greece of the coalition government decided between government and opposition in November 2011.

From 17 May to 21 June 2012, he served again as Minister for Foreign Affairs in the caretaker cabinet of Panagiotis Pikrammenos. Molyviatis was again appointed, on 28 August 2015, as an interim Minister for Foreign Affairs in the caretaker cabinet of Vassiliki Thanou-Christophilou.^[3]

Personal life

He speaks English and French. He is chairman of the Konstantinos Karamanlis Foundation. He is married and has one daughter and one son.^[3]

References

1. "Greece's caretaker government sworn in with first female prime minister". The Guardian. Associated Press in Athens. 28 August 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
2. Remarks With Greek Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis After Meeting. U.S. Department of State, 24 March 2005. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
3. "Petros G. Molyviatis". Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
4.  Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe/Preamble. Wikisource. 2004.