Ioannis Kasoulides

Ioannis Kasoulides (born August 10 1948 in Nicosia) is a Cypriot politician, one of the leading officials of the right-wing Democratic Rally party and Foreign Minister in the Glafcos Clerides government from 1997 until 2003.

In June 2004, he was elected a Member of the European Parliament. He is head of the Cypriot Delegation and a Member of the Bureau of the European People's Party. He sits on the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs and serves as a substitute in the Transport and Tourism Committee. He is also Vice-Chairman of the Delegation for Relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council, Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee for Human Rights in Western Sahara, member of the Euromeditarranean Parliamentary Assembly, Chairman of the Friends of the Commonwealth caucus and head of the European Neighborhood Policy-South (ENPI-South) Working Group of the European Parliament.

Kasoulides studied medicine at the University of Lyon in France and specialised in geriatrics in London. He worked in the private sector after returning to Cyprus.

He is also founder and first chairman of the Federation of Cypriot Students Union in France, served at various party posts and was elected deputy in 1991. In March 1993 he undertook the post of Government Spokesman and resigned from Parliament and retained his position until April 1997 when he was appointed Foreign Minister until 28 February 2003.

As Minister, Kasoulides led the diplomatic service during efforts for Cyprus' Accession to the European Union and was mainly responsible for the political part of the negotiations. Kasoulides is known as a moderate and progressive politician with fresh ideas and an open mind. He has made a name for himself as a devoted patriot but a staunch opponent of populist and nationalist attitudes. Kasoulides has a wide and deep international reach and enjoys high approval ratings across the political spectrum, reaching beyond the Democratic Rally. He is running in the 2008 Presidential Elections as the leading challenger, and many Cypriots hope that he will be able to reverse the current stalemate and bring Cyprus closer to a comprehensive solution to the occupation problem.

He also enjoys much respect in the EU where his statesmanlike attitudes have gained him a reputation as a man who can broker deals.

Education and work experience

 * 1974: Graduate in medicine (M.D.) in Lyon
 * 1981: specialised in geriatrics at London Hospital
 * 1975-1981: Hospital doctor and lecturer in London
 * 1981-1993: Practised medicine in Nicosia

Career

 * 1985-1989: Various posts in the Democratic Rally (DISY)
 * 1990-1993: Chairman of Democratic Rally Youth Movement
 * from 1993: Member of the Democratic Rally Political Bureau
 * 1991-1993: Deputy for Nicosia
 * 1993-1997: Government spokesman
 * 1997-2003: Minister of Foreign Affairs
 * Founder of D.D.K
 * July 2003: Strategy and Public Affairs Limited (communications and crisis management consultants)
 * May 2004: Elected member of European Parliament

Decorations

 * Commander of the Order of the Phoenix Hellenic Republic
 * Commander of the Order of Merit Hellenic Republic
 * Commander of the Order of Xirka (Malta)
 * Commander of the Order of the Cedar (Lebanon)
 * Commander of the Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre
 * Palestinian Bethlehem 2000 Award
 * Athens Municipality Highest Distinction Award