George Papandreou receives Diplomatic Courier Envoy Award in New York

Former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has been honored with the Diplomatic Courier Envoy Award during an event in New York held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. The award recognizes his long-standing contributions to international diplomacy, peace, and the promotion of democratic institutions, marking the 20th anniversary of the Diplomatic Courier publication.

In his acceptance speech, Papandreou emphasized the power of civil society to transform international relations and challenge injustice. He highlighted the importance of dialogue, specifically recalling the Greek-Turkish rapprochement he helped foster as Foreign Minister alongside Ismail Cem. He noted how spontaneous solidarity between citizens of both nations during earthquake disasters demonstrated that people can take control of bilateral relations through cooperation between municipalities, businesses, and cultural organizations.

Papandreou also delivered a personal tribute to his mother, Margaret Papandreou, who passed away recently. He described her life and work for democracy, human rights, and women’s empowerment as a constant example for him, stating, “You don’t need permission to care. And you don’t need a title to act.” He concluded by noting that modern challenges, such as climate change and the divisive nature of social media algorithms, require renewed focus on peace and democracy.