The creation of the UNHCR Branch Office in Athens (1952) and the first Representatives

2.01

MFA

28 July 1951

The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs the Greek Ministry of the Interior that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has recommended the establishment of a group of sociologists and specialists to address refugee issues, and in this context, he appointed a person responsible for Greece, who will visit the country.

2.02

UNHCR

3 December 1951

During his speech at the first session of the High Commissioner's Advisory Committee on Refugees, the first United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Gerrit Jan van Heuven Goedhart, mentions that his work depends on close and friendly collaboration with governments, facilitated by the establishment of Branch Offices in various countries, including Greece. "The Greek Government has informed me that they would welcome a visit of my representative in order to discuss the setting up of an office in Athens, and one of my directors is at present in Greece for this purpose. A branch office in Greece, if set up, would also, with the concurrence of the Governments concerned, cover the various countries of the Near East and possibly the Middle East."

2.03

MFA

14 January 1952

The Permanent Representative of Greece to the International Organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Nikolaos Chatzivasileiou, informs the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Knud Larsen, from Denmark, will be appointed as the Representative of the High Commissioner for Refugees in Greece, after obtaining the consent of the Greek Government, and that his team will subsequently be completed, for which, Alexandra Ioannidou, a Greek national, has also submitted her candidacy.

2.04

MFA

27 December 1951

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, G. J. van Heuven Goedhart, informs the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs of his intention to establish a Branch Office (Representation) in Athens and appoints the Dane Knud Larsen as his first Representative. The letter includes a description of the responsibilities of the Representative. Larsen's resume is attached.

2.05

MFA

12 January 1952

Sophocles Venizelos, Greek Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, announces to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, G. J. van Heuven Goedhart, the acceptance of the recommendation for the establishment of the High Commissioner’s Branch Office in Athens, and the appointment of the Dane Knud Larsen, as the first Representative (Head of the Branch Office).

2.06 (Photo)

UNHCR

The first Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Greece, Knud Larsen (Denmark).

2.07

UNHCR

12 March 1952

The Legal Advisor of UNHCR informs the Representative of the High Commissioner in Athens, Knud Larsen, that it is not necessary to sign a bilateral agreement prior to the opening of the Branch Office in a state, although in certain cases (mainly with states that are not members of the UN) a similar agreement has been signed.

2.08

UNHCR

17 December 1951

Letter from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees requesting the opening of a bank account at the Bank of Greece, for the Branch Office's operations in Athens, in view of its upcoming commencement.

2.09

UNHCR

26 November 1951

UNHCR requests the support of the UN Special Committee on the Balkans (UNSCOB) in view of the opening of the UNHCR Branch Office in Athens, through potential office space sharing, as well as the transfer of surplus equipment.

2.10

UNHCR

10 January 1952

UNHCR requests from the United Nations Special Committee on the Balkans (UNSCOB) the donation of equipment, including a car, among other items, as well as the shared use of office space, the car and the secretarial support of UNSCOB, for a limited period. A list of UNSCOB items to be reserved for the UNHCR is attached to the letter.

2.11

UNHCR

15 January 1952

The United Nations services express concern that UNSCOB might perceive that UNHCR should pay a fee for the donation of the items. However, according to the European Office of the UN in Geneva, this is not correct, as the owner of the equipment is the UN itself, under which both UNSCOB and UNHCR operate.

2.12

UNHCR

24 January 1952

UN services in New York confirm that UNSCOB has been instructed that its equipment will be transferred to UNHCR as transfer of property and not sales transaction.

2.13

MFA

20 February 1953

UNHCR requests the Greek Government to find a space for relocating its Branch Office in Athens, which has been operational since February 1952, and proposes the provision of space within or near one of the Greek Ministries responsible for refugees.

2.14

MFA

11 March 1953

The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs transfers to the Ministry of Social Welfare UNHCR's request for the provision of space for its Branch Office in Athens and asks for the "swift resolution of the matter."

2.15

MFA

17 March 1953

The Greek Minister of Social Welfare, Konstantinos Adamopoulos, informs the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs that despite the efforts, space has not been found for UNHCR’s Branch Office in Athens, while those proposed were not accepted by the Representative of the High Commissioner in Athens, Knud Larsen.

2.16

MFA

15 May 1953

UNHCR Branch Office in Athens announces to the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs that it has relocated offices, from 3 Grivaion Street to a new building at 59 Skoufa Street.

2.17

UNHCR

8 May 1953

Publication in the Government Gazette of the Legislative Decree 2402 (signed on 7 May 1953), according to which the Head and the senior staff employed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Representation in Greece will enjoy the same duty exemptions as those granted to the diplomatic missions and staff, in Greece (2018 informal translation in English is included).

2.18

MFA

3 November 1955

The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs asks from the Greek Telecommunications Company to install a telephone in the residence of the Greek, UNHCR employee, H. Brissimi, providing the same privileges as those granted to members of foreign diplomatic missions.

2.19 (Photo)

UNHCR

Hari Brissimi (1919-2021). One of the first Greek employees of the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees in Athens. In 1955 she started working for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Greece, and in 1962 she was transferred to the Headquarters of the Organization in Geneva. In 1978 she became the first female Director of an International Organization, assuming the position of Director of Counselling, Education and Resettlement.

2.20

MFA

7 December 1953

The first Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Athens, Knud Larsen, informs the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs about his departure from his current position and from Greece.

2.21

MFA

10 December 1953

On behalf of the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, St. Stephanopoulos, the Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sends a farewell letter to Knud Larsen, the departing first Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Athens, expressing his sincere appreciation for the good cooperation between the two parties.

2.22

MFA

15 December 1953

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, G. J. van Heuven Goedhart, announces the appointment of Vladimir Temnomeroff as his Representative in Athens, replacing Knud Larsen.

2.23

UNHCR

29 December 1953

The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Gerrit Jan van Heuven Goedhart, that it agrees with the appointment of Vladimir Temnomeroff as the Representative of the High Commissioner in Athens, replacing Knud Larsen.

2.24

UNHCR

18 January 1954

The United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, James M. Read, announces to Vladimir Temnomeroff that the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs agrees with his appointment as the Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Athens and wishes him success in his duties.

2.25

UNHCR

15 October 1955

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees proposes to the Greek Government the appointment of Alexander McIver as the High Commissioner’s Representative in Athens.

2.26

UNHCR

5 November 1955

The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses to the United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, its agreement with the appointment of Alexander McIver as the High Commissioner’s Representative in Athens.

2.27

MFA

12 December 1955

Vladimir Temnomeroff, the Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Athens, informs the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, Spyridon Theotokis, about his departure from that position.

2.28

MFA

21 December 1955

The Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, Spyridon Theotokis, sends a farewell letter to Vladimir Temnomeroff, the Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Athens, due to the latter’s departure from the position, expressing his gratitude for the collaboration.

2.29

UNHCR

3 June 1957

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, A.R. Lindt, proposes to the Greek Government the appointment of Victor Beermann as the High Commissioner’s Representative in Greece.

2.30

UNHCR

10 July 1957

Pericles Skeferis, Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, announces to A.R. Lindt, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Greek Government’s agreement with the appointment of Victor Beermann as the High Commissioner’s Representative in Greece and expresses his appreciation for the services of the outgoing Representative, Alexander McIver.

2.31

UNHCR

25 March 1960

James M. Read, the United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, proposes to the Greek Government the appointment of E. Schlatter as the High Commissioner’s Representative in Greece.

2.32

UNHCR

UNHCR

30 May 1960

Pericles Skeferis, Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, announces to the United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, the Greek Government’s agreement regarding the appointment of E. Schlatter as the High Commissioner’s Representative in Greece.

2.33

UNHCR

25 July 1960

A.R. Lindt, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, confirms to the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs the appointment of E. Schlatter as the High Commissioner's Representative in Greece, and requests any assistance that could contribute to the success of his mission.

2.34

UNHCR

26 June 1961

F. Schnyder, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, proposes to the Greek Government the appointment of Fred Bruhns as the High Commissioner´s Representative in Greece. His resume is included.

2.35

UNHCR

11 July 1961

The Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, Evangelos Averoff, announces to F. Schnyder, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Greek Government’s agreement to the appointment of Fred Bruhns as the High Commissioner’s Representative in Greece.

2.36

UNHCR

9 August 1961

A.R. Lindt, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, confirms to the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs the appointment of Fred Bruhns as the High Commissioner´s Representative in Greece, and requests any assistance that could contribute to the success of his mission.

2.37

UNHCR

25 May 1963

The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs announces to UNHCR the Greek Government’s agreement for the appointment of Leslie A. Goodyear as the High Commissioner’s Acting Representative in Greece.