The ceremony began with the address by the Rector of the University of Piraeus, Professor Michael Sfakianakis, and and was followed by the presentation of the commendation speech (Laudatio) by the Chair of the Department of International and European Studies, Professor Aristotle Tziampiris.

The Rector of the University of Piraeus, Professor Michael Sfakianakis, in his opening address described in detail, the University of Piraeus, with 85 years of operation, contributing substantially to the cultivation and consolidation of the sciences, both in the research field, and producing scientists who staff the private and public sector nationally and internationally.
The title of Honorary Doctor awarded to Nikos Christodoulides honors the politician, who combines Aristotelian Reason and Pathos with a new political Ethos, it honors his contribution to Hellenism in general and his homeland Cyprus in particular, a country small in size but large in potential and prospects that faced serious, existential threats with bravery and fortitude.
The Chair of the Department of International and European Studies, Professor Aristotle Tziampiris welcomed Nikos Christodoulides to the circle of Honorary Doctors of the University of Piraeus and to the academic family. A man who has served and continues to serve the Republic of Cyprus for over twenty years, university professor, diplomat, politician and active citizen who possesses knowledge, experiences, abilities, humanity, honesty, thinks in terms of a human and has his country as his compass, a man who works tirelessly to strengthen the unbreakable ties between Greece and Cyprus.
The awarding ceremony ended with the speech of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, who thanked the University of Piraeus for the honor and continued by talking about the historical cooperation that the University has with Cyprus and him personally. He connected Plato's philosophy with political life, in the exercise of power for the public good and the challenges of modern politics in the face of the problems that now concern all countries, stressing that flexibility, scientific analysis and continuous development of the academic world is a must in this effort.

The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikolaos-Georgios Dendias as the Representative of the Government, Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Katrougalos, Member of Parliament, as the Representative of the Official Opposition by SYRIZA. Dimitris Manzos as the Representative of PASOK - KINAL, the Minister of Education Niki Kerameos, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, the Deputy Minister of Education Angelos Syrigos, the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Domna Maria Michaelidou, and a number of MPs and high-ranking officials of the Central Administration.

The Reverend Bishop of Piraeus Seraphim honored us with his presence.
Present were, the President of Hellenic Single Public Procurement Authority (HSPPA) Androniki Theotokatos, the Vice-President of the Hellenic Court of Audit Konstantinos Kostopoulos, the Vice-President of the Hellenic Court of Audit Evangelia-Elisavet Kouloumbinis,
the HAGS Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Stavros Papastathopoulos, DAE Chief of Staff Lieutenant General George Tsenekidis, the Chief of the Coast Guard George Alexandrakis, the Deputy Director of the Piraeus Police Directorate Aris Lymberatos.
The Regional Governor of Attica Giorgos Patoulis, the Mayor of Piraeus Ioannis Moralis.

The international community and state representatives had a strong presence, Elisabeth Cardoso Ambassador of Luxembourg in Greece, Ambassador of Belgium Francoise Gustin, Ambassador of Poland Artur Lompart, Ambassador of Moldavia Andrei Popov, Ambassador of Malta Joseph Cuschieri. Ambassador of Mexico Alejandro Garcia Moreno and Laura Mora Barreto Head of Economics, Commercial Promotion and International Relations of the Embassy of Mexico, Ana Maria Sotero, Ambassador of Peru, Lina Skerstonaitė, Ambassador of Lithuania. Ο Gabrir Sambar representative of the Syrian Consulate, from the Embassy of Kazakhstan Bakitzhan SUYUNDIKOV, Ambassador of Hungary Haupt Erik, the Korean Ambassador Jung Il Lee and the Ambassador of Serbia Dušan Spasojević, the Egyptian ambassador Omar Amer Youssef and a representative of the Embassy of Albania.
The Rector of the National Technical University of Athens Andreas Boutouvis, the Rector of the Agricultural University of Athens Spyridon Kintzios, the Rector of the University of Western Attica Panagiotis Kaldis and a number of distinguished representatives of public and private institutions of the country also honored the announcement with their presence.