Georgios Papoulias
Encyclopedia
Georgios Papoulias was a Greek
politician
and diplomat
. Papoulias briefly served as the Foreign Minister of Greece on two separate terms in 1989 and 1990.
Papoulias was born in 1927. He graduated from the Law School of the University of Athens, followed by studies at the Higher School of Commerce and Army service in 1950-1951 with the rank of Second Lieutenant. Papoulias entered the Greek Diplomatic Corps in 1955. His first foreign posting came in 1957, when he was sent to the Greek embassy in New Delhi
. From there he was transferred to Bonn
, where he remained until 1964 when he moved to the permanent Greek legation in Geneva
. After a domestic stint as head of the Foreign Ministry's Political Affairs Department, in 1971 he became ambassador to France
and Greece's Permanent Delegate to the UNESCO
. Following the fall of the Greek military junta in 1974, he became Greece's Permanent Representative
to the United Nations
, a post he held until 1979. After that he served as ambassador in Ankara
(Turkey
) and, after 1983, in Washington DC. Papoulias' first term as Foreign Minister was in the Tzannis Tzannetakis
coalition government from 12 October until 23 November 1989. He was re-appointed to the foreign ministry for a second time in the Konstantinos Mitsotakis cabinet from 16 February until 11 April 1990.
Georgios Papoulias died from an apparent suicide
on September 11, 2009, at the age of 82, following serious health problems.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
. Papoulias briefly served as the Foreign Minister of Greece on two separate terms in 1989 and 1990.
Papoulias was born in 1927. He graduated from the Law School of the University of Athens, followed by studies at the Higher School of Commerce and Army service in 1950-1951 with the rank of Second Lieutenant. Papoulias entered the Greek Diplomatic Corps in 1955. His first foreign posting came in 1957, when he was sent to the Greek embassy in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
. From there he was transferred to Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
, where he remained until 1964 when he moved to the permanent Greek legation in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
. After a domestic stint as head of the Foreign Ministry's Political Affairs Department, in 1971 he became ambassador to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Greece's Permanent Delegate to the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
. Following the fall of the Greek military junta in 1974, he became Greece's Permanent Representative
Permanent Representative
A Permanent Representative is the head of a diplomatic mission to one of various international organisations. The best known of the organisations to which states send Permanent Representatives is the United Nations; of these, the most high-profile ones are those assigned to headquarters in New...
to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, a post he held until 1979. After that he served as ambassador in Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
(Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
) and, after 1983, in Washington DC. Papoulias' first term as Foreign Minister was in the Tzannis Tzannetakis
Tzannis Tzannetakis
Tzannis Tzannetakis was a Greek politician who was briefly Prime Minister of Greece during the political crisis of 1989.-Biography:Tzannetakis was born in Gytheio in the region of Mani in 1927...
coalition government from 12 October until 23 November 1989. He was re-appointed to the foreign ministry for a second time in the Konstantinos Mitsotakis cabinet from 16 February until 11 April 1990.
Georgios Papoulias died from an apparent suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
on September 11, 2009, at the age of 82, following serious health problems.