Dimitrios Avramopoulos
Dimitrios Avramopoulos is a Greek politician .He was born in Athens in 1953. He was elected MP for New Demokracy at the General Elections of 1993, 2004, 2007 and 2009.
Political Career
He has served as Vice-President of the Main Opposition, the New Demokracy Party, since July 2010. In addition he has been in charge of Foreign Affairs and International Relations for the New Demokracy Party since December 2009. Morever he served president of the Organising Committee of the 2010 Party Congress ,Minister of Health and Social Solidarity between 2006 and 2009, and Minister of Tourism Development between 2004 and 2006. He served as Mayor of Athens between 1994 and 2002, and was elected twice with overwhelming majorities. During his tenure as Mayor of Athens he was elected President of the Summit Conference of the Mayors of the World, President of the ‘ Hellenic Central Union of Municipalities and Communities’, Member of the Committee of the Regions of the European Union and Vice-President of the Executive Bureau of I.U.L.A.. Furthermore he was the founder and First President of the World Union of Olympic Cities. He was a career Diplomat from 1980 to 1993 (Consul of Greece in Liege, Representative in the Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Vienna, Consul General of Greece in Geneva). Diplomatic advisor to the President of the New Demokracy Party from 1989 to 1991, Foreign Ministry Spokesman in 1992 and Director of the Diplomatic Office of the Prime Minister of Greece in 1993. He also served in the Hellenic Air Force for 26 months (1978-1980).
Education
He graduated from the Law School of Athens University, with Degree in Political Science and Public Administration in 1978. Postgraduate Specialisation Diploma in International Institutions (Boston University/Brussels), and License Speciale in European Studies at the Institute of European Affairs of the ‘Université Libre des Bruxelles'. He also speaks English, French, and Italian.
Notable Work
He has received awards and highest state distinctions from 17 countries. He was awarded honorary doctorates by Adelphi University, Deree College, Drexel University and Kingston University. Visiting Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government, Institute of Politics at Harvard University in 2003. He has been presented with highest distinctions from many foreign cities and Municipalities and awarded the Honorary Citizenship of 39 Greek cities. Honorary Professor of the State Academy of Technological Sciences of Moscow, Professor-Advisor, Peking University (Beijing).
