FOREIGN Ministry diplomats have had their feathers ruffled after the appointment of a non-diplomat to the much-coveted position of Cyprus Ambassador to Athens.
The Cabinet yesterday approved a list of diplomatic transfers for Cypriot embassies around the world, including the appointment of University of Cyprus (UCY) Assistant Professor Giorgos Georgis to the post of ambassador in Athens.
The post has been vacant since last October when Leonidas Pandelides was sent to the Moscow embassy.
A member of the PASYDY union council for the diplomatic service explained to the Cyprus Mail yesterday that the Athens post was considered a dream post by diplomats who spent their lives moving all over the world.
Article 50 of the Cyprus Republic Constitution allows the President to appoint ambassadors from outside the service but this provision must not be interpreted widely, said the official.
“We disagree with this appointment. In special circumstances, like before or after the referendum, it is understandable to send a non-diplomat. If he is the personal friend of the Pope or US President, then it is also acceptable so long as he is a personality of some magnitude. In other circumstances, we wouldn’t accept an appointment from outside the service,” said the official.
He noted that the appointment of Giorgis, an assistant professor of Modern Greek History from the UCY Department of History and Archaeology, would upset members of the diplomatic service. “These people have been travelling for 20 to 25 years all over the world, from Pretoria to Helsinki to New Delhi. Their spouses lose their jobs every time they move. In such cases, a post like Athens seems like fair compensation and then an outsider is appointed.”
The union official noted that experienced diplomats had advantages over those with no prior experience in diplomacy because they acquired negotiating skills, created a network of friends and were able to establish a name in the job.
The diplomats union argued that Athens was an important post for the country since Greece did not take a clear stance during last year’s referendum on the Annan plan.
“You need a good diplomat to talk to foreign diplomats, the press, professors, foreign ministry officials, someone with a good network to manage these things. Diplomacy is an art and the diplomatic corps has very competent staff,” he said.
According to reliable sources, the Foreign Ministry will be recalling to Nicosia ambassadors Alecos Zinon from Rome, Marios Ieronomides from Damascus, Poppi Avraam from Brussels and Andreas Kapparis from New Delhi.
Meanwhile, Stavros Epaminondas will be transferred from Vienna to Rome, Costas Papadimos from Stockholm to Brussels, Cornelius Corneliou from deputy permanent representative in Brussels to ambassador in Vienna, Pavlos Anastassiades from Nicosia to Stockholm, Andreas Zinonos from Nicosia to New Delhi and Giorgios Georgis from UCY to Athens.
