Xavier Bettel honoured by Greece for exceptional contributions

On Wednesday evening, Xavier Bettel, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, was honoured in a ceremony at the Embassy of Greece in Luxembourg. Bettel was bestowed with the Grand Cross of the Order of Honour by the Ambassador of Greece to Luxembourg Angelos Ypsilantis.

The ceremony was attended by dignitaries from all 27 European Union member states, the Swiss Ambassador and HM Ambassador Fleur Thomas of the United Kingdom, as well as Minister of Finance Yuriko Backes, Luxembourg City Mayor Lydie Polfer, Bettel's mother, and his husband, Gauthier Destenay.

The Order of Honour, established in 1975, is a prestigious award that is conferred upon Greek citizens who have distinguished themselves in their efforts to serve the country.

The award is also given to foreigners who have made notable contributions to enhancing Greece's stature abroad. The Grand Cross of the Order of Honour is the second highest award that Greece can bestow upon a person, and the significance of this moment was palpable in the room.

As he stood opposite the Greek Ambassador, an evidently moved Prime Minister Bettel recounted the effort and work for which he was being honoured. He recalled his days as a student in Greece, where he said he would take his car and drive to the neighbouring countries near Thessaloniki.

He reflected on how much Europe had changed since then, and remembered how different the experience of visiting neighbouring Turkey, Bulgaria, and Skopje (now North Macedonia) seemed to him back then.

PM Bettel also looked back on the challenging years of the Eurozone crisis, which brought social and economic hardship to Greece. He spoke of his collaboration with former Prime Ministers Antonios Samaras and Alexis Tsipras, as well as his current counterpart, PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

During the Eurozone crisis, PM Bettel often acted as a mediator between EU leaders, encouraging Greece to accept what he called "necessary actions" but also bringing back to the negotiating table actors that were unwilling to offer help.

"The Greek crisis has taught us that in a deep crisis, solidarity has to prevail," Bettel said in an interview with Euractiv in 2015. "It wasn't easy for some countries, which initially didn't want to help Greece. But in the end, they helped, and it was best for everyone," he added.

"This is a very humbling honour," said the Prime Minister, "and it happens that we are celebrating 90 years of bilateral diplomatic relations this year." He went on to say, "I have been a friend of Greece, and I will continue being a friend of Greece," adding jokingly, "even after I've been awarded, you can continue counting on me."

Prime Minister Xavier Bettel wearing the rybon bestowed upon him by the Greek Ambassador, with his husband Gauthier Destenay (right). / © Xavier Bettel / Instagram

Bettel also took a moment to thank his husband, saying, "Every man, and every woman, has a person next to them that supports them," before stating that he would share this honor with him.

He ended his speech by thanking the Greek people and the Greek community of Luxembourg, with which he said he maintains excellent relations.

"As PM Bettel continues to serve his country, this honor serves as a reminder of his contributions to Greece and his ongoing efforts to strengthen ties between the two nations." concluded the Greek Ambassador.