As the Coordinator of UNEP/MAP, the Lead United Nations Agency in Greece, Mr. Gaetano Leone took part in the United Nations Day observance ceremony hosted by the Authorities of the Region of Attica at the Parthenon and Syntagma Square in Athens.
Following the flag-raising ceremony in the Parthenon, H.E. Mr. Antonis H. Diamataris, Deputy Minister, Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. George Patoulis, Regional Governor of Attica also delivered speeches at Syntagma Square.
Mr. Leone read the message of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Dignitaries and senior officials representing the authorities of the Hellenic Republic, Heads of UN agencies in Greece, the President of the Association of UN Personnel, guests from the diplomatic community and UN staff members also attended the UN Day observance events at the Parthenon and at Syntagma Square.
This year on UN Day, UNEP/MAP—Barcelona Convention Secretariat joined forces with the UN Regional Information Centre (UNRIC) to take part in a Forum on the Sustainable Development Goals organized by the UNESCO Youth Club in Thessaloniki. Briefings and talks about the UN also took place in several schools in Greece.
The United Nations is present in Greece since the 1940s, when the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) provided assistance to Greece to recover from conflict. Today, several U.N. offices and agencies are supporting Greece at its request in several fields, including the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the International Migration Organization (IOM), UNICEF, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO),) and the World Health Organization (WHO). More than 1,500 Staff are serving with the United Nations in Greece, the overwhelming majority of which are Greek nationals.
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