Tribute to South African / Greek relations

THE SOUTH AFRICAN OFFICIAL RESIDENCE IN ATHENS

By Dee Vourliotis

sent in by A van ZyL Athens. Greece

Exactly 50 years ago the Official Residence in Athens. which has served as the home for II Heads of Mission. was purchased by the South African Government for 8.500 gold sovereigns. To commemorate this occasion. as well as South African-Greek relations in generaL and to inaugurate the newly-established permanent exhibition centre at the Residence. Ambassador Dawie Jacobs and his wife. Eldaleen. hosted two commemorative functions on 10 and 11 June 1998. Both events received prominent media coverage.

Official relations between South Africa and Greece date back to 1905 "hen the first Greek Consulate was opened in Cape Town. Another Consulate was later opened in Johannesburg in 1908. while the Greek Embassy was established in 1942. The first South African Diplomatic Mission in Greece was established as a Legation in 1946. headed by Mr George M Bower. who served as Charge d' AiTaires a.i. until 1956. He served under Ambassador General William Henry Everit Poole who was stationed in Rome,and was also accredited to Greece. In 1961 the South African Legation was upgraded to an Embassy and General Poole was accredited to Greece as the first resident South African Ambassador.

Immediately after the arrival of Mr Bower in Athens at the beginning of 1946. the search for suitable accommodation for a chancery and residence. started. This was difficult to come by as British troops were still in Greece following the end of World War II in 1945.

The Legation in the meantime moved into rented space. Eventually an ideal location was found in the prestigious suburb of Psychico situated in the centre of the "diplomatic area". next to the Belgian Legation and opposite the Palace of Queen Mother Frederika, then occupied by the Italian Legation According to documentation the house was built in 1934 by the owner, who was supposedly the largest building contractormat the time. at a cost of approximately £90.000 (Sterling) The selling price in 1948 was 8.500 gold sovereigns. which included agency and transfer fees. The Sterling equivalent in Greece at the time was £78.462.

It is said that General Jan Smuts, a close friend of the Greek Royal family. personally viewed the classical building at 5 Diamandidou Street during a visit to Greece in 1946 to address the Greek Parliament. where he was staying with Crown Prince Paul and Princess Frederika. who lived just across the street from the property. After his inspection of the building. he called the then Minister of Finance (Treasury) to obtain the 8.500 gold sovereigns for payment.

The said Minister apparently told him that such a large sum was unavailable, especially in gold sovereigns Jan Smuts, who was afraid that the owner would not wait for the money and as a result sell the property to someone else replied, "Then make ill". The purchase was finally sealed with the handing over of the property deeds to the South African Legation on behalf of the Union of South Africa. on 29 May 1948.

In 1951 the Chancery - until then in rented space - was transferred to the basement of the Official Residence, where it remained until September 1968. Since the purchase of the Official Residence, it has been occupied by the following Heads of Mission: Mr G M Bower till 1956 and Col C H Maree (1956-196 I) both as Charge d'AfTaires a i. followed by Ambassadors General E Poole 1961-1966; Col N JJJ Jooste (1967-197;0) Mr P Lindhorst (1971-1973): Mr J Selfe (1974-1980): Mr P H Viljoen (1981-1983): Mr F J Cronje (1984-1989): Dr S G A Golden (1990-1993): Mr P Coetzee (1993-1996): and Mr D Jacobs (1997 to date).

In 1979 a new garage was constructed and the old garage was kept as a garden tool storeroom until 1997 when Ambassador Jacobs obtained permission from the Department of Foreign Affairs to have it renovated to serve as a perm anent exhibition centre where the cultural diversity of South Africa's rainbow nation could be on display. It includes, amongst others, paintings by prominent South African artists; arts and crafts which include N guni beadwork, Zulu woven baskets, Ndebele dolls. wooden sculptures, embroideries made by women from previously disadvantaged communities and a display of historical photographs depicting the history of South African-Greek relations.

The two commemorative functions mentioned above took the form of a formal sit-down dinner on 10 June and a reception in the garden of the Official Residence on II June for 80 and 500 guests respectively.

The guest speaker at the dinner was Mr Panayiotis Sgourides. the Deputy President of the Greek Parliament. who paid tribute to South African-Greek relations. A prominent Athenian figure. Mr Ian Vorres. Mayor of Paiania and President of the renowned Vorres Museum. officially opened the permanent exhibition centre. During both these functions the children's paintings from the Santam international children's art competition were put on display on panels surrounding the patio of the Residence, creating a wonderful atmosphere and drawing very positive comments. A harpist provided background music during the dinner, while a Greek choir impressed the guests during the reception with their rendition, not only of Greek songs. but of "Shosholoza'', "Thula Thula Mtwana", as well as the South African National Anthem.

On South African-Greek relations Mr Sgourides, who recently visited South Africa. said that "Greece needs South Africa and South Africa needs Greece". He also expressed the confidence that "South Africa will eventually become the future United States of Africa. a new world leader in politics, commerce and culture".

Mr Vorres. in commenting on the "rainbow nation". quoted the great thinker Reinhold Niebuhr who said that "nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in a lifetime". Mr Vorres noted that the new rainbow nation had proved Niebuhr totally wrong!

A commemorative brochure depicting the history of the Official Residence and South African- Greek relations was especially compiled for and released on the occasion.