The President of ICAO Council, Mr. Salvatore Sciacchitano, with Ambassador Mr. D. Azemopoulos

ΟICAO Secretary General, Mr. Juan Carlos Salazar, with Ambassador Mr. D. Azemopoulos

Effective December 20, 2024, Ambassador Dimitrios Azemopoulos assumed duties as the new Permanent Representative of Greece to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), succeeding Amb. Maria Saranti in this position.

The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) has already held a meeting with Ambassador Azemopoulos at its headquarters to review the steps forward (HCAA 9 Dec,2024 P.R.).

In his meetings with the ICAO President, Mr. Salvatore Sciacchitano, and the ICAO Secretary-General, Mr. Juan Carlos Salazar, Ambassador Azemopoulos discussed the framework of Greece-ICAO cooperation, with a particular focus on flight safety.

Ambassador Azemopoulos highlighted Greece’s strong commitment to achieving ICAO’s goals within the framework of the strategic plan “Safe Skies, Sustainable Future” for the period 2026–2050. He also commended ICAO’s innovative initiative, “Transformational Objective” which is now in its third year of implementation with remarkable results.

Furthermore, Ambassador Azemopoulos expressed Greece’s unwavering support for ICAO’s mission, acknowledging the Organization’s continuous and dedicated efforts to address the challenges of an ever-changing world.

From ICAO’s side, President Sciacchitano emphasized to Ambassador Azemopoulos the significant progress achieved by the HCAA under the exemplary leadership of Dr. Christos Tsitouras. He specifically noted the "tremendous progress" observed in this sector, attributing it to the expertise, diligence, and innovation of the relevant officials.

The Secretary-General extended his gratitude to the Greek government for its steadfast support during ICAO’s restructuring process, as well as for the outstanding results of the recent flight safety audit (Safety Audit - USOAP) conducted in Greece. He highlighted that Greece serves as a model for other countries in the region.

The Secretary-General also spoke in highly positive terms about the HCAA and its contributions to ICAO’s mission, praising its excellent collaboration with HCAA Governor Dr. Christos Tsitouras. He remarked that "HCAA’s success is a success for ICAO."

The HCAA warmly welcomes Ambassador Dimitrios Azemopoulos to his new role and wishes him and his team every success in their important work, which is crucial for strengthening Greece’s global standing in the field of civil aviation.