Embassy of Sweden, Athens

Embassy of Sweden, Athens
Embassy of Sweden in Athens is the diplomatic mission of Sweden in Greece. Sweden also has five honorary consulates in Chania, Heraklion, Corfu, Rhodes, and in Thessaloniki.
History
Sweden has had diplomatic relations with Greece since 1833. The first resident Swedish minister in Greece was appointed in 1944 after the Swedish envoy had previously been accredited from the Swedish embassy in Bucharest and in Ankara. The legation was elevated to an embassy in 1956 after an agreement was reached between the Swedish and Greek governments to elevate each other's legations to embassies. Sweden's newly appointed envoy in Athens, Count Fritz Stackelberg, was thus given the position of ambassador.
Tasks
The embassy's task is to represent Sweden in Greece and promote relations between Sweden and Greece. The embassy monitors and reports on political and economic developments in Greece. The embassy promotes trade between Sweden and Greece in collaboration with Business Sweden and also promotes tourism and cultural exchange between the countries and contributes to strengthening the image of, and increasing knowledge of, Sweden in Greece. The embassy carries out consular work regarding the approximately 850,000 Swedish citizens who visit Greece annually, as well as the Swedish citizens who are permanently resident in Greece.
Buildings
Chancery
The chancery was 1945–1955 located at rue Patriarchou loachim 20, Athens, 1956–1963 at rue Stissichorou 15, Athens, in 1964 at rue Méléagrou, Athens 138, and from 1965 at 4 rue Méléagrou & Boulevard Vassileos Konstantinou, Athens 138,
As of , the chancery are located at Vassileos Konstantinou 7, at the top of the fifth floor of a building built in 1977. The building also houses the embassies of the Netherlands and Ireland. Across the street is the Panathenaic Stadium from 1896, the year the first modern Olympic Games took place. The Swedish Embassy moved in during 1979 and in connection with that the chancery was rebuilt. Ten years later, in 1989, a thorough renovation and installation of a new reception, security lock and interview room was carried out. In 2003, the embassy's premises were renovated and a new heating and cooling system was installed. In 2012, a new elevator was installed.
Residence
The ambassador's residence was 1955–1956 located at Rue Méléagrou 5, 1957–1964 at Rue Roi Georges II, n:o 1, 1965–1966 at 1 rue Vassileos Georgiou B, and from 1967 at 17 rue Hirodou Attikou.
The landlord of the previously rented Swedish ambassadoral residence sold the house and the new owner did not want to rent it out. A suitable replacement property was found in the Filothei district, located on the slope northeast of the city center overlooking Athens and Mount Pentelicus. The district is a quiet residential area and several countries have relocated their ambassadoral residences here. The ambassador's residence was built and purchased in 1989. The architect's name is Stelios Agiostatitis. Its located at Ioannou Metaxa 56 in Filothei.
The ambassador's residence is a detached earth shelter villa in two floors and a basement. Both exterior and interior are white, the latter with white marble floors and white painted walls. There are glass walls facing the valley. The entrance is on the street level, as is the representation floor with study, lounge, dining room and kitchen. Outside the dining room and lounge is a large terrace of about 120 square metre. On the ambassador's private floor, there are five bedrooms, a living room, four bathrooms and two smaller terraces. Recreation room, storage rooms and rooms for service staff are located in the basement. There is also a garage. The property has a walled raised plot of 1,200 square metre. In the garden there is a solar heated pool.
Heads of Mission
See also
Greece–Sweden relations
Footnotes
References
External links
Athens
Greece–Sweden relations
Sweden