THE CYPRUS Council of the International Association for the Promotion of Women of Europe yesterday named First Lady Fotini Papadopoulou as Cyprus’ Woman of Europe.
The council’s decision automatically nominates the First Lady for this year’s Woman of Europe award held in Brussels at the international association’s headquarters.
The distinction is organised annually to promote European women who develop intense humanitarian activities at an international level or who have contributed to culture, arts and literature.
The announcement was made at a special ceremony at the Presidential Palace in the presence of her husband, President Tassos Papadopoulos, House President Demetris Christofias and members of the cabinet, deputies, friends and family.
Clearly moved, Papadopoulou thanked the Cyprus Council for choosing her and noted that her support of people less fortunate was the moral obligation of everyone and every modern society. She added respect for upholding cultural heritage and tradition was a duty towards country, people and future generations.
“At this moving moment, I want to assure you that all these years all I’ve done is to follow the principles taught to me by my parents. To love, respect and serve my fellow man as much as I can,” she said.
Papadopoulou said a ‘Woman of Europe’ had an important role to play in defending and maintaining the foundations, principles and ideals of the European Union and more specifically the protection of human dignity, the welfare and protection of children, the right to a normal life for special needs individuals and their smooth integration into the social whole, and respect for cultural diversity.
The President of the Cyprus Council of the International Association for the Promotion of Women of Europe, Soulla Zavou, said the First Lady was being honoured for her unstinting work in maintaining high European ideals, including her support of suffering children and the aged, as well as the maintenance and promotion of cultural heritage in Cyprus.
Meanwhile, International Association for the Promotion of Women of Europe president and Greek member of the European Parliament, Rodi Kratsa, characterised Papadopoulou as a “woman with vision and great philanthropic achievement”, who is an example of an active European citizen.
Last year Cypriot psychologist-researcher Stella Kyriakidou achieved second place in the European competition. Kyriakidou was chosen as candidate for her great contribution to the battle against cancer and is the founder of the women’s breast cancer advocacy organisation, Europa Donna Cyprus, and a founding member and vice president of the same organisation at an international level.
