Statements by International Leaders 

“His personality greatly impressed me. He is a man of politics who has faced many problems, which he sees and sees through with precision and clarity.”

“Konstantinos Karamanlis dedicated his life to the service of the people and of his country, and to the defence of the rightful issues of peoples who struggle for their liberty and national independence, and he holds today a special place in the world, at the level of the region and the broader international level.”

“You dedicated your life to the service of your country and you served it in a variety of circumstances. You endured moments of profound sorrow when the Greek people found itself under a dictatorship, but your destiny called you forth, again by your hand to guide the nation to democracy and reconciliation.”

“In this country, whose political life resembles the lacework of its coastline and is in as sharp relief as the outline of its mountains, Konstantinos Karamanlis is able to govern.”

When I became Prime Minister in 1962, we inaugurated a dialogue with all the Balkan countries which was successfully conducted […] It was however Karamanlis who declared explicitly that Bulgaria was no enemy, and was instead a good neighbour with whom we had to maintain good relations. This was an historic occasion, especially in view of the state of affairs at the time.

“It is not Greece that entered the Common Market, it is Karamanlis. He is the personification of two virtues: dignity and simplicity.”

“He became prime minister at a critical moment in his country’s history, and under his wise and steady leadership democracy was re-established and peace was preserved despite the considerable provocations threatening them. He rendered exceptional services to his homeland and to Europe.”

“He is one of Europe’s eminent political figures. To tell the truth, I should say I consider him the most eminent of all.”

“In the last fifty years, Konstantinos Karamanlis has shaped his country’s political life in an exemplary manner. As minister and prime minister he resolutely worked at the structuring of a stable democratic regime in Greece. The restoration of democracy after the end of the military dictatorship and the country’s incorporation in the European Union will ever remain linked to his name. In both his terms of office as President of the Republic, Konstantinos Karamanlis remained faithful to his unequivocal political dogma. He was a supreme representative of your country.”

“You are the father of institutions which, despite adversities and possibilities, were able to be integrally preserved in an atmosphere and an environment of stability and at this moment I have to admit that there does not exist in Europe another such example of rare quilibrium.”

“I address myself to you as the worthy representative of a great people which, after a difficult and dark period, in its firm faith in liberty was able to regain its important position among the democratic nations, in the framework of the civilization to which Greece contributed so much… Allow me, Mr. Prime Minister, to express my admiration of yourself and of all those who battled to restore Greece to its great traditions.”

“You, Mr. President, played an outstanding role of significance in preserving the torch of liberty for half a century. Many were supporters of democracy, but only a few gallants stood up to be counted when they were called upon to neutralize despotism and restore the democratic values to government and society. You, Mr. President, are one of those few.”

“The British people welcomed and with profound admiration followed the personal achievement of Mr. Karamanlis and his government in restoring democracy to Greece. If there were a Nobel Prize for Democracy, he who should receive it is Konstantinos Karamanlis.”

“In your person your country found an inspired statesman who was able to bring about the conditions for restoring Greece to the road of democracy. In my travels around the world I met numerous politicians. To my mind, Karamanlis holds a special place with his strong perspicacity and great genius.”

“In our country we harbour particular esteem for Mr. Karamanlis, whom we consider the saviour of Greece and the builder of Democracy after all you suffered during the dictatorship. The Egyptian people admire the judiciousness and high level of the policy he follows.”

“The enormous work that was achieved by this great man, who was linked to France by special bonds of sentiment, who was head of government and then at the head of the Greek state, will remain alive in the conscience of both our peoples.”

“Konstantinos Karamanlis is the Dean of European politicians.”

“In the execution of his important responsibilities, this political leader sought to serve his country in a magnanimous spirit and to contribute to its positive course on the road of democracy.”

“Karamanlis was the only person I knew in these years who was trustworthy and on whose word you could rely… Today your name expresses the return of Greece into the circle of European democratic nations.”