Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation

1. Opening Closed Doors:Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation Georgios POLYDORAKIS Expert Counsellor Service of Diplomatic and Historical Archives Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs International Conference of Editors of Diplomatic Documents Washington DC, April 2015

2. The Library of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs

3. G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation 21 volumes with current diplomatic documents published by the Greek State ( 1833 – 1910)

4. G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation Questions • Why did the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs publish those volumes? 2. What were their main characteristics and themes and how do they differ from today’s publications? 3. Were there other similar publications world-wide at the same period? 4. Do these volumes qualify as “publications of diplomatic documents” and therefore is it worth talking about them in these Conferences?

5. G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation More than 70 volumes with current diplomatic documents published by the Greek State ( 1833 – 1970s)

6. G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation

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16. G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation Conclusions: WHY? 1. Public opinion was greatly interested 2. The government wanted to present its views in the most official way 3. Lack of strict rules of classification, security and document management 4. Documents submitted to the Parliament

17. G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation Conclusions: SOME CHARACTERISTICS Thematic Current issues Uniformity in format? Language: Greek, French or both No introductory notes no annotations of any kind no responsible editor no table of contents or a list of the documents

18. G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation Conclusions: OTHER COUNTRIES? FRANCE

19. G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation Conclusions: OTHER COUNTRIES? UNITED KINGDOM

20. G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation Conclusions: OTHER COUNTRIES? OTTOMAN EMPIRE

21. G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation Conclusions: OTHER COUNTRIES? UNITED STATES

22. G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation Conclusions Do these volumes qualify as “publications of diplomatic documents”?

23. G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation Thank you for your attention!! Georgios Polydorakis polydorakis.georgios@mfa.gr