The perfect storm

It was with a heavy heart that I left NATO in
January 2004 to assume my responsibilities as
Greece’s Permanent Representative to the
European Union. While I was honored to be
chosen for yet another critical post in an
institution whose decisions have an immediate
and decisive impact on both Greek and European
affairs, it was a bittersweet move. I was leaving
behind a daily round of historic intensity that had
practically become second nature. The four years
I spent at NATO were among the most critical
and definitive in its history, a turning point not
only for the Alliance but also for the entire
world. My colleagues and I lived through events
that horrified and stunned the world, events that
ushered in an era of new challenges, requiring us
to reassess many of the things we took for grant-
ed. At the end of these four years, I was coming
away having gained a unique perspective into
history and international relations, having
participated in the daily decision shaping, and
making process, a demanding and laborious task
with far-reaching implications for many countries
and people.
While you, the reader, may consider my views
pessimistic, my more than 35 years in the
diplomatic service have taught me that none of
us can afford not to look truth and facts in the
eye. It is the only path towards understanding
the world and resolving its issues