History:
The Cyprus National Commission for the Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation of the United Nations (UNESCO) constitutes the contact point of the Organisation in Cyprus.
The Cyprus National Commission as a body was founded on the 15th of February 1962, according to the Constitutional Map of UNESCO. Until 2001 it functioned under the supervision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the year after, the Council of Ministers decided to transfer the competence for issues relating to UNESCO to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth. In 2016, the Council of Ministers approved the establishment of the Foundation ‘Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO’ . In 2018 the Foundation was registered in the Registrar of Societies and Instituitions.
Aims and Responsibilities
The Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO functions under the supervision of the government, which is performed by the Minister of Education and Culture via the Secretary General of the Ministry. The Commission is responsible for all issues related to the scope and programmes of UNESCO in Cyprus. For the realization of the aims of the Organisation, the Commission acts as an advisory body to the Government, cooperates with the responsible Ministries and state services, as well as with semi-governmental and non-governmental Organisations, Institutions, Corporations and other bodies whose activities are related to those of UNESCO.
The Commission:
- Encourages and supports the participation of governmental and non-governmental Organisations and civil society in the design and implementation of UNESCO’s programmes in Cyprus;
- Functions as a point of awareness and information about the aims, programmes and activities of UNESCO;
- Preserves, promotes and develops contacts and cooperation with other National Commissions in UNESCO’s Member States for mutual benefit.
Composition
The Commission is composed by the President, the Secretary General and the Members. The President is appointed by the Council of Ministers, upon proposal of the Ministry of Education and Culture. The Secretary General is a permanent officer of the Ministry of Education and Culture and is appointed by the Council of Ministers, after a proposal by the aforementioned Ministry.
The Members of the Commission are representatives from the following Ministries/Services/Bodies:
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Ministry of Education and Culture
- Cyprus Department of Antiquities
- Press and Information Office
- University of Cyprus
- Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry
- Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
Composition of the Commission:
President
Loukia Loizou – Hadjigavriel, Director of the A.G.Leventis Gallery
Secretary General
Pavlos Paraskevas, Director of the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth
Members
Dr Kyprianos Louis, Director of Secondary General Education, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth
Dr Marina Solomidou - Ieronymidou, Director of the Department of Antiquities, Cyprus
Dr Ioannis Savvides, Head of European and International Affairs Office, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth
Stelios Georgiades, Counsellor A', Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Marina Polydorou, Head of Newsroom, Web Management and Liaison Officers' Department, Press and Information Office, Ministry of Interior
Dr Vasiliki Kassianidou, Professor of Archaeology, Department of History and Archaeology, University of Cyprus
Maria Anaxagora, Director of Cyprus Handicraft Centre, Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry
Marina Michaelidou Kadi, Officer A' of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
Honorary Members
Dr Ioannis Eliades, Director of the Byzantine Museum of the Archbishop Makarios III Foundation
Dr Sophocles Hadjisavvas, Archaeologist, former Director of the Department of Antiquities, Cyprus