ENDORSEMENTS

HELLENIC REBUBLIC

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

THE ALTERNATE MINISTER

To the Secretary General of the Council of Europe

Athens, May 4th 2020

Dear Secretary General,

I have the pleasure to submit to you, on behalf of the Government of the Hellenic Republic, the candidacy of Dr. Despina Chatzivassiliou-Tsovilis for the position of Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, in accordance with Article 1.a.i of the Regulations.

Dr. Chatzivassiliou-Tsovilis has demonstrated, throughout her 27 year-long career at the Council of Europe, that she possesses the qualities, integrity and sound judgement, required for the position of Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly. For the past 21 years, she has been working with Parliamentarians from all over Europe, having served in several positions in the Parliamentary Assembly, notably as Head of the Secretariat of the Political Affairs and Democracy Committee and Acting Head of the Monitoring Committee. She is well-versed in the Assembly’s working methods and has a profound understanding of the full scope of the Organisation’s activities and its structures.

Having served, myself, as a member of the Parliamentary Assembly for many years, I have had a first-hand experience of her professional and interpersonal qualities, as well as her leadership skills, including her ability to consolidate different views in a very constructive way. It is thanks to these qualities that the Greek Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is supporting her candidacy. I attach, herewith, the letter addressed to you, on behalf of the Greek Delegation, by its Chairwoman, Mrs Dora Bakoyannis.

I am convinced that Dr. Despina Chatzivassiliou-Tsovilis has all the qualities that make her an outstanding candidate for the post of Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, from where she will have the opportunity to further promote our common values and ideals.

I would be grateful if you could forward her candidacy to the Committee of Ministers, for further consideration.

Please accept, dear Secretary General, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Miltiadis VARVITSIOTIS

Alternate Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic

ΒΟΥΛΗ ΤΩΝ ΕΛΛΗΝΩΝ

HELLENIC PARLIAMENT

To the Secretary General of the Council of Europe

Athens, April 23rd 2020

Dear Madame Secretary General,

On behalf of the Greek delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, I would like to, hereby, offer our support to the candidacy of Dr. Despina Chatzivassiliou-Tsovilis for the position of Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly.

Dr. Chatzivassiliou-Tsovilis has dedicated her career, of almost 30 years, to the Council of Europe and the Parliamentary Assembly. She possesses deep knowledge and expertise in the workings of the Assembly and of its committees, having served in sensitive positions for many years. Her understanding of political, legal, and administrative issues, which lie in the very core of the Parliamentary Assembly’s work, are complimented by her emotional intelligence and ability to form strong ties of trust and cooperation with parliamentarians, stakeholders and colleagues.

All the above knowledge, skills and competences are concentrated in the candidacy of a strong, dedicated and talented woman that is Ms. Chatzivassiliou-Tsovilis. Her adherence and belief to the ideals of democracy, parliamentarism and human rights, to which she has dedicated her life, are an inspiration, and reflect the qualities a Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly should possess. In these troubling past few months, where the entire world is suffering, the need for strong leaders that will bring us together has become paramount.

Dr. Chatzivassiliou-Tsovilis reflects such a strong, female leader, and to that end, the entire Greek delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe offers its support for her candidacy.