VISIT BY THE NEW DIRECTOR FOR THE MIDDLE EAST OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF CYPRUS TO HIS BEATITUDE

     On 30th March 2012 His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa received at the Patriarchal See the departing political adviser of the Embassy of the Cypriot Republic in Egypt, the Honourable Mr. Andreas Kouzoupis, who will be undertaking the duties of Director of Middle East Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Cyprus.

    During the meeting, at which His Excellency the Ambassador of Cyprus Mr Sotos Liassides, the Chairman of the Cypriot Brotherhood Mr Haralambos Haralambides and some of it members were present, His Beatitude spoke of the recent meetings of the Venerable Primates of the Orthodox Churches of the Middle East in Nicosia, and also expressed his joy on the new duties of the Director of Middle East  issues by Mr Kouzoupis, whom he defined as a worthy diplomat and a personal friend.

     His Beatitude once again expressed his support of the Cypriot people as well as grateful thanks to His Beatitude Chrysostomos of Cyprus and His Excellency President Dimitris Christofias of the Cypriot Republic, for their assistance to the multifunctional efforts of the Patriarchate. He then awarded Mr. Kouzoupis the distinction of the Star of the Lion of St Mark.
On his behalf, the honoured diplomat thanked His Beatitude the Patriarch for the honour awarded to him, as well as for the excellent cooperation they had and assured him that he would always assist in the initiatives of the Orthodox Churches of the Middle East for peace in the broader area.

     The visitors were then taken on a conducted tour of the installations of the Patriarchal Mansion.