Humor, Cultural Understanding, and Engagement Key to Being a Good Diplomat Says GU-Q Diplomat-In-Residence, Ambassador Alexandrakis
Georgetown University Qatar (GU-Q) recently hosted a public talk by former Greek Ambassador Dimitri Alexandrakis, who currently serves as the university’s Distinguished-Diplomat-in-Residence. The event, titled What Makes a Good Diplomat? provided an in-depth look at the key qualities and experiences that define effective diplomacy, and allowed students, faculty, and the public to engage with insights from the seasoned diplomat.
Introduced by Dean Safwan Masri, Ambassador Alexandrakis drew from his distinguished 42-year career as a diplomat, including his recent tenure as Ambassador of Greece to Iran from 2017 to 2022, a period marked by significant regional challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic. He highlighted the humanitarian side of diplomacy, recounting his role in facilitating one of Greece’s first vaccine donations to Iran’s Red Crescent, underscoring diplomacy’s capacity for positive impact, even amid political complexities.
During his talk, Ambassador Alexandrakis described the role of an ambassador as a “24-hour commitment” that requires constant engagement and a deep understanding of the host country’s culture and social dynamics. He also noted that humor can be a valuable asset in diplomatic interactions, often helping to ease tensions and foster goodwill.
With examples drawn from experiences ranging from ambassadorships in Brazil and Zimbabwe, to serving as Greece’s permanent representative to the UN, and on the NATO delegation, the Ambassador shared lessons learned from his career. Reflecting on broader global diplomatic relations involving the United States, Iran, Russia, and China, Ambassador Alexandrakis emphasized that the success of diplomacy hinges on creating the “necessary political space” for human-to-human connections. In his concluding remarks, he affirmed that “world peace depends on more dialogue, more talk,” underscoring the need for sustained communication and cooperation between countries.
In a dynamic Q&A session following the talk, GU-Q students and the public had the opportunity to engage further with Ambassador Alexandrakis on a variety of topics regarding current affairs, and the art and intricacies of diplomacy.
About the Distinguished Diplomat-in-Residence Program
Launched in Fall 2023 as a Dean’s special initiative, this program is designed to enrich the university experience by providing meaningful opportunities to engage with and learn from distinguished practitioners of diplomacy. This year GU-Q is hosting Ambassador Andrakis and H.E. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Kawari, State Minister with the rank of Deputy Prime Minister, and President of Qatar National Library. Ambassador Androulla Kaminara, First female European Union Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and inaugural Distinguished Diplomat-in-Residence remains available to students throughout the year in the capacity of non-resident fellow.