Nikos Christodoulides
Government | |
---|---|
In office 14 April 2014 – 28 February 2018 | |
Preceded by | Christos Stylianides |
Succeeded by | Prodromos Prodromou |
Personal details | |
Born | University of Athens | 6 December 1973
Occupation | Politician, diplomat |
Profession | Historian, political scientist |
Awards | Order of Makarios III (Grand Master) Order of Merit of the Republic of Cyprus |
Signature | |
Nikos Christodoulides (
Christodoulides started his career as a diplomat in 1999 and also worked as a lecturer and researcher at the University of Cyprus from 2007 to 2010. He then served in the second-term government of President Anastasiades, until resigning in January 2022 in order to run in the 2023 Cypriot presidential election. He defeated Andreas Mavroyiannis in the run-off and assumed office on 28 February 2023, becoming the island's first leader to be born in an independent Cyprus.
Early life and education
Christodoulides was born in 1973 in
He graduated from the Archbishop Makarios III Lyceum in Paphos in 1991,[2] and completed his compulsory 2-year military service in the Cypriot National Guard in 1993.
Christodoulides attended Queens College, City University of New York, majoring in Political Science, Economics, Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, before graduating in 1997. He then pursued postgraduate studies in political science at New York University and in Diplomatic Studies at the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies (MEDAC), University of Malta.[3]
Christodoulides earned a PhD in Political Science and Public Administration from the University of Athens in 2003.[4]
Career before presidency
Academic
Christodoulides lectured and worked as a non-tenure track research associate in the Department of History and Archeology at the University of Cyprus. He taught on the "History of the Postwar World".[3]
Diplomat
Christodoulides entered
Spokesman of Government
Christodoulides was appointed Government Spokesman on 14 April 2014. He stepped down upon the conclusion of President Anastasiades's first term on 28 February 2018.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
On 1 March 2018, after the re-election of President Anastasiades, Christodoulides was appointed to the
In May 2018, Christodoulides officially asked the United Nations to prepare for a speedy resumption of the reunification process. After meeting Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias on 7 May 2018, he praised Secretary-General António Guterres for despatching a UN Special Representative to sound out the atmosphere for resuming talks.[7]
In June 2018, he visited Israel and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin. They discussed regional developments and the strengthening of bilateral ties in energy and emergency situations. They also discussed Turkish incursions and strategic cooperation on the planned EastMed pipeline.[8] In June 2018, Christodoulides welcomed an announcement by ExxonMobil executives to speed up their schedule to begin drilling operations in Block 10 of the Exclusive Economic Zone. Operations were planned to begin in the fourth quarter of 2018 but[9] commenced in 2021.[citation needed]
On 17 July 2018, he met EU High Representative Federica Mogherini in Brussels. They discussed the potential role of the EU in resuming stalled peace talks with Turkey. During his visit, Christodoulides stated that Cyprus does "not have the luxury of a new talks' failure" and that "Turkey has to comply with European standards and international law."[10]
On 15 July 2020, he commented on the
Christodoulides was made a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre in 2018 and was awarded the Order of the Serbian Flag on 5 April 2021 by President Aleksandar Vučić.[12]
2023 Presidential election
After months of speculation on whether he would run in the
In June 2022, he formally announced his candidacy as an independent candidate, despite being a member of DISY, which fielded Averof Neofytou as its presidential nominee. On 5 January 2023, following the official filing of his candidacy, he was formally ejected from DISY by the party's governing body.[15]
Christodoulides gathered support from smaller parties, including
He was inaugurated on 28 February 2023.
Presidency
Cyprus problem
Christodoulides declared that his primary focus was finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.[19] In order to restart the negotiations between the two sides, he requested the appointment of a UN special envoy. His proposal was accepted by Antonio Guterres, who appointed the Colombian diplomat Maria-Angela Cuellar with the aim of facilitating the diplomatic process. Cuellar will arrive in Cyprus after January 27, 2024. She has already met with Colin Stewart, Cyprus' permanent UN representative in New York, and is planning visits to the guarantor power countries (Greece, Turkey, and the UK).[20][21]
Amalthea Initiative
At a
Christodoulides visited Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and King Abdullah of Jordan to inform them about his proposed humanitarian corridor, while also discussing it with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz over the phone.[25][26]
The initiative received positive recognition from the international community and gained approval from the Israeli government.[27] The first step was done on January 1, 2024, when Cyprus and the UK collaborated to successfully send 87 tonnes of aid to Gaza through the Port Said in Egypt. The aid was then transferred through the Rafah border, without security checks in Israel.[28]
On March 4, 2024, Ursula von der Leyen declared the European Commission's support for Cyprus' humanitarian corridor initiative,[29][30] scheduling a visit to Cyprus on March 8, 2024, to assess the infrastructure.[31][32] The initiative also gained support by the United States, with President Joe Biden announcing on March 8, 2024, that the U.S. military will establish a temporary port in Gaza to enhance sea-based humanitarian aid delivery. The port will handle large vessels carrying food, medicine, and water, with initial shipments arriving via Cyprus. The U.S. will collaborate on security and coordinate with UN agencies and humanitarian operations on the ground.[33][34][35] The corridor is backed by aid from the United Arab Emirates which will be transported by ship to the port of Larnaca, in Cyprus. Israeli security officials will inspect the aid before onward delivery to Gaza.[36][32][37][38][39]
On March 12, 2024, the Spanish NGO's
On March 21, 2024, technocrats from 36 countries convened at the "Zenon" Coordination Center in Larnaca to discuss bolstering the plan, coinciding with the imminent departure of a second ship from Larnaca Port to transport 500 tons of aid to Gaza. Efforts are underway to secure funding for the long-term operation of the Amalthea Plan, with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announcing a €10 million contribution, and the EU pledging €70 million in funding.[45][46]
Economy
On December 20, 2023, Yiannis Panayiotou, the Labor Minister of Christodoulides' government, announced a minimum wage increase from €940 to €1,000 per month. Employers initially opposed the raise, before proposing an increase to €970, while unions sought €1,020. Hence, the government's decision to increase the minimum wage to €1,000 was met with varying reactions from stakeholders.[47][48]
Digital Transformation
In October 2023, Christodoulides' government unveiled its ambitious plans for
Controversy surrounding the removal of the Minister of Defense
Christodoulides came under scrutiny by both people and press in both Cyprus and Greece for the removal of his Minister of Defense Michalis Giorgallas who according to reports was ousted after mounting pressure from the government in Athens due to his stance on a joint defense doctrine (Ενιαίο Αμυντικό Δόγμα).[51][52][53]
Personal life
Christodoulides is married to Philippa Karsera, a Greek Cypriot diplomat from
The couple have four children together.[citation needed]
Publications
Christodoulides has contributed to domestic and international academic journals and is the author of two books: Plans for Solution of the Cyprus Problem 1948–1978 published in 2009,[55] and Relations between Athens and Nicosia and the Cyprus Problem 1977–1988 published in 2013.[56][4]
Honours and awards
National honours
- Cyprus: Grand Master and Grand Collar of the Order of Makarios III (28 February 2023)
- Cyprus: Grand Master of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Cyprus (28 February 2023)
Foreign Honours
- Germany: Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (12 February 2024)[57]
- Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Orthodox Crusaders of the Holy Sepulchre (22 March 2018)[58]
- Greece: Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer (13 March 2023)[59]
- Italy: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (26 February 2024)[60]
- Poland: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (4 October 2021)[61][62]
- Serbia: Order of the Serbian Flag, First Class (4 May 2021)[63][64]
References
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- ^ "Netanyahu and Christodoulides discuss regional developments". Cyprus Mail. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
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- ^ Christodoulides, Nikos (15 July 2020). "Statement of the Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs". www.pio.gov.cy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020.
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{{cite web}}
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