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:
- Deputy Ministry of Culture
- Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Univeristy Communitiy
President
Marina Solomidou-Ieronymidou, Former Director of the Department of Antiquities
Secretary General
Ioanna Hadjicosti, Director of the Contemporary Culture Department, Deputy Ministry of Culture
Members
Ioannis Savvides, Head of the European and International Affairs Office, Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth
Eleni Apeyitou, Head of the Economic, Climate, and Cultural Diplomacy Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Panayiotis Angelides, Professor at the Department of Education, University of Nicosia - Director of the UNESCO Chair "Cultural Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue for a Culture of Peace"
Honorary Members
Niki Papadopoulou Papa, Former Head of the EU and International Affairs Office, Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth
Iosif Hadjikyriakos, Director of the Larnaka Archives-Phivos Stavrides