Cabinet orders disgraced ambassador back to Cyprus

By George Psyllides

THE CABINET yesterday decided that Cyprus’ suspended Ambassador to Egypt, Charalambos Kapsos, be transferred back to the island.

Announcing the cabinet’s decision, Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said Kapsos would continue to be under suspension, but would be brought back to Cyprus for reasons of national interest.

“The bilateral relations with neighbouring Egypt dictate the immediate appointment of an ambassador to that country,” Papapetrou said.

” Mr. Kapsos’ presence in Cairo, where he is acting as if he was still the ambassador, discredit Cyprus’ standing in Egypt,” he added.

The cabinet took its decision consulting with the Attorney-general’s office.

The cabinet decided yesterday to appoint Dimitris Droussiotis as the Republic’s new ambassador to Cairo. Droussiotis had until now been the embassy’s adviser.

Papapetrou was adamant that the case against Kapsos was not closed, and that investigations continued.

The Foreign Ministry ordered an inquiry into the activities of the ambassador in August after allegations that Kapsos had smuggled large quantities of wine into Egypt by declaring the container as inexpensive personal effects, thus avoiding the 300 per cent import duty levied by Egyptian customs.

Kapsos had also been accused of organising a ‘Cyprus night’ at his residence, charging Cairo dignitaries who attended US$60 per person.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.