Ioannis Kasoulidis

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

In June 2004, he has been elected Member of the European Parliament. He is now a Member of the Bureau of the European People's Party and sits on the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs.

He is a substitute for the Committee on Transport and Tourism and a Vice-Chairman of the Delegation for relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council.

Kasoulides studied medicine at 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 Europeran Union and was mainly responsible for the political part of the negotiations.

Education and work experiance

1974: Graduate in medicine (M.D.) in Lyons
1981: specialised in geriatrics at London Hospital
1975-1981: Hospital doctor and lecturer in London
1981-1993: Practised medicine in Nicosia
from July 2003: Company medical consultant

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)

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

External links

European Parliament biography
Declaration (PDF) of financial interests (in Greek)