Certain quarters launched a bevy of spiteful comments when the US administration chose a successful Greek-American businessman, George J. Tsunis, to succeed Geoffrey Pyatt as the new US ambassador to Greece, rather than a career diplomat, as per the usual practice.

During his greeting at the Independence Day Reception, US Ambassador to Greece George Tsounis underlined that "the best days of Greece are ahead of us" and made special reference to the Greek values and ideals of democracy, hospitality, kindness, philanthropy, ethics.

The United States has a strong and historic relationship with Greece because it trusts it to act in a reliable way, US Ambassador George Tsunis said on Tuesday, at the first press briefing held after meeting with Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias earlier in the day.