Cyprus New Foreign Minister

Newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis and her predecessor Markos Kyprianou underlined the major challenges lying ahead, as regards the Cyprus problem and the assumption of the EU Presidency by Cyprus, during the second half of 2012, at a ceremony held on Friday, following the appointment of new Ministers by President Demetris Christofias. Outgoing Minister Kyprianou thanked Ministry of Foreign Affairs employees for their support and cooperation, noting that the last three and a half years that he had served as Foreign Minister were full of challenges for him. He added that the Foreign Ministry`s task and the Minister`s duties are demanding and that they must be fulfilled with very few human and material recourses “especially if you consider that we have to face a very difficult opponent, Turkey.“

Kyprianou added that most of the goals he set when he took over the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been accomplished. I leave the Ministry in good hands, Kyprianou said, and underlined that he and Marcoullis “have a common approach regarding Cyprus` role internationally.“ On her behalf, Marcoullis said that she feels like going back home since she was a member of the diplomatic family for more than 30 years. On 16 July, 2007 the former President of the Republic, the late Tassos Papadopoulos, appointed Marcoullis as Minister of Foreign Affairs, in which position she served until the end of the President’s term of office, the 28th of February 2008. I take over a Ministry which was in good hands, Marcoullis said. “We face many challenges and we need to intensify our efforts so we can face these challenges”, she said. I`m sure that everyone will do their outmost to succeed in their mission, she said. There are major challenges, especially regarding the Cyprus problem where we must face a very powerful opponent, which becomes even stronger, economically and politically, she said