The 5^th “Ambassadors’ Meeting” of the Balkans & Black Sea Forum was held on Thursday, June 26, 2025, from 16:00 to 19:00, hosted by the Ambassador of Israel to Greece, H.E. Mr. Noam Katz.

Participants engaged in a lively and constructive dialogue, exchanging views on the upcoming activities of both the Balkans & Black Sea Forum and the AgriBusiness Forum.

Guest speaker Mr. Mathios Rigas, CEO of Energean, delivered an insightful presentation on natural gas reserves and challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Participants in the meeting have been (A-Z order):

Ambassadors

• HE Stavros Avgoustides, Ambassador of Cyprus
• HE Noam Katz, Ambassador of Israel
• HE Arif Mammadov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan
• HE Valentin Poriazov, Ambassador of Bulgaria
• HE Andrei Popov, Ambassador of Moldova
• HE Zsolt Sandor, Ambassador of Hungary
• HE Timur Sultangozhin, Ambassador of Kazakhstan
• HE Aleksandar Sunko, Ambassador of Croatia
• HE Gerda Vogl, Ambassador of Austria
• ΗΕ Dragan Vukovic, Ambassador of Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Mr Boris Mirchevski, Chargé d’Affaires, North Macedonia

Embassy of Israel

• Mr. Doron Lebovich, Deputy Chief  of Mission, Embassy of Israel
• Ms. Nelly Leon, Economic Coordinator, Embassy of Israel

Energean PLC

• Mr. Mathios Rigas, Chief Executive Officer
• Mr. Sotiris Chiotakis, Head Corporate Affairs & Comm. Greece, Balkans, SEE

Balkans & Black Sea Forum

• Mr. Giannis Balakakis, Chair, Organizing Committee
• Ms. Christina Mangou, V.P. Comm-External Relations

The next Ambassadorial meeting will be held in late Autumn 2025

The 4^th “Ambassadors’ Meeting” of the Balkans & Black Sea Forum was held on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, from 11:00 to 14:00. The meeting was co-hosted by the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Greece, H.E. Mr. Arif Mammadov, at Domotel Kastri.

Participants engaged in a lively and constructive dialogue, exchanging views on the upcoming activities of both the Balkans & Black Sea Forum and the AgriBusiness Forum.

From left to right

Ambassador of Croatia-HE Aleksandar Sunko, Head Communications Geo Routes Institute-Ms. Christina Mangou, Embassy of Azerbaijan Secretary B-Ms. Amina Zalova, Ambassador (a.h.) Co-Chair Balkans & Black Sea Forum-Michael B.Christides, CEO Hellenic Development Bank-Ms. Ismini Papakirillou, Ambassador of Georgia-HE Levan Beridze, Charge d’Affaires Embassy of Romania-Ms. Mioara-Florina PITUȚ, Ambassador of Bulgaria-HE Valentin Poriazov, Embassy of Turkey, Deputy Head of Mission-Mr. Onur Katmerci, Ambassador of Azerbaijan-HE Arif Mammadov, Chair Balkans & Black Sea Forum-Mr. Giannis Balakakis.

From left to right

• Ambassador of Turkiye-HE Cagatay Erciyes
• Ambassador of Bulgaria-HE Valentin Poriazov
• Ambassador of Croatia-HE Aleksandar Sunko
• Ambassador of Italy-HE Paolo Cuculi
• Ambassador (a.h.) Co-Chair Balkans & Black Sea Forum-Michael B.Christides
• Chair Balkans & Black Sea Forum-Mr. Giannis Balakakis
• Ambassador of Azerbaijan-HE Arif Mammadov
• Ambassador of Moldova-HE Andrei Popov
• Ambassador of Georgia-HE Levan Beridze
• Charge d’Affaires a.i. Embassy of Romania-Ms. Mioara-Florina PITUȚ
• Head Communications Geo Routes Institute-Ms. Christina Mangou

The next working meeting will take place in Spring 2025.

On Wednesday, April 24^th, 2024 the Balkans & Black Sea Forum spring’s Ambassadors’ Committee was hosted at the Residence of the Ambassador of Kazakhstan in Greece.

Under the supreme hospitality of the Ambassador of Kazakhstan, HE Mr. Yerlan Baudarbek-Kozhatayev, participants had a constructive dialogue on the forthcoming activities of the Balkans & Black Sea Forum and the AgriBusiness Forum, and exchange of views on the challenges currently influencing the global scene.

As a special guest, Mr. Ioannis Karydas, CEO Renewables Copelouzos Group, provided meaningful insights on energy interconnection between Egypt – Greece and the European power systems.

In the family photo (from left, to right):

• HE Mr. Andrei Popov, Ambassador of Moldova
• Mr. Giannis Balakakis, Chair, Balkans & Black Sea Forum
• HE Mr. Stavros Avgoustides, Ambassador of Cyprus
• HE Mr. Alexandar Sunko, Ambassador of Croatia
• Ms. Christina Mangou, Head Communications, Balkans & Black Sea Forum
• HE Mr. Valentin Poriazov, Ambassador of Bulgaria
• Mr. Michael B.Christides, Ambassador (a.h.) Co-Chair, Balkans & Black Sea Forum
• HE Mr. Yerlan Baudarbek-Kozhatayev, Ambassador of Kazakhstan
• Mr. Ioannis Karydas, CEO Renewables, Copelouzos Group
• HE Mr. Arif Mammadov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan
• HE Mr. Dragan Vukovic, Ambassador of Bosnia-Herzegovina

Next working meeting will take place in Autumn 2024.

Following the success of the 4^th edition of the Balkans & Black Sea Forum (BBSF) (Athens, December 2022) we embarked on an effort to introduce new initiatives that will further enhance its visibility and effectiveness.

We, thus, had the honor to host on Tuesday 6 June 2023 a working meeting of Ambassadors and Heads of Missions accredited to Greece in order to exchange views and benefit from their valuable proposals to enrich BBSF’s regional imprint.

Meeting’s participants have been:

 1. Ambassador of Norway, HE Ms. Jakhelln           

2. Ambassador of Croatia, HE Mr. Sunko 

3. Ambassador of Bulgaria, HE Mr. Poriazov          

4. Ambassador of Slovenia, HE Ms. Pozar              

5. Ambassador of Lithuania, HE Ms. Skerstonaite

6. Ambassador of Kazakhstan, HE Mr. Kozhatayev              

7.  Ambassador of Ukraine, HE Mr. Shutenko

8. Ambassador of North Macedonia, HE Ms. Boskovska

9. Charge d’Affaires, Embassy of Romania, Ms. Ciamba

10. Charge d’Affaires, Embassy of Azerbaijan, Mr. Aslansoy

11. Charge d’Affaires, Embassy of Georgia, Ms. Mumladze

12. Embassy of Cyprus, Dpt. Head of Mission, Mr. Constantinou

13. Ambassador (a.h.) Michael B.Christides, Co-Chair, Balkans & Black Sea Forum

14. Mr. Giannis Balakakis, Chair, Balkans & Black Sea Forum

15. Ms. Christina Mangou, Head Communications, Balkans & Black Sea Forum

16. Embassy of Ukraine, Political-Economic Counselor, Ms. Anna Vasylets

We are grateful to all our esteemed guests and “partners” and look forward to our next working meeting in autumn 2023.