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The Embassy of Cyprus in Berlin

Contact

Address: Kurfürstendamm 182, Berlin, D-10707
Tel.: + 49 (0) 30 3086830

Fax: + 49 (0) 30 27591454

E-mail: info@botschaft-zypern.de

Website: http://www.mfa.gov.cy/embassyberlin

Opening hours of the Embassy: 09:00 - 17:00 (Mon. - Fr.)

The Ambassador

Amb. Maria Papakyriakou

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Maria Papakyriakou was appointed ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus in the Federal Republic of Germany on September 1st 2021.

She moved to Berlin from Nicosia, where she has served as Director for Strategic Policy Planning in the Ministry Foreign Affairs (2020-2021). She joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1997, and since then served in different positions:

  • from 1997 – to 1999 Department Turkey and Cyprus Question, Ministry Foreign Affairs
  • from 1999 – to 2004 Political Officer and Deputy Head of Mission – for the last 2 years of the five-year term – in the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in the Federal Republic of Germany, Berlin
  • from 2004 – to 2006 First Secretary in the Cyprus Question Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • from 2006 – to 2010 Political Counsellor in the Cyprus High Commission to the United Kingdom, London
  • from 2010 – to 2011 Security Policy Director in the Ministry Foreign Affairs
  • from 2011 – to 2013 Director of the Permanent Secretary’s Office
  • from 2013 – to 2014 Director fur Multilateral Affairs and International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • from 2014 – to 2018 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cyprus to the Kingdom of Denmark – with parallel accreditation to the Republic of Iceland
  • from 2018 – to 2020 Diplomatic Advisor to the Minister of Defence, Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus

She holds a Postgraduate degree in European Studies, from Université d’ Aix-Marseilles III, France (Maîtrise) and Pre-doctorate (D.E.A.) degree in Political Science, from Institut d’ Etudes Politiques (I.E.P.) de Strasbourg, France

History

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German-Cypriot relations are considered to be one of the closest in the European Union. The Federal Republic of Germany established diplomatic relations with the Republic of Cyprus on 20 August 1960. Cyprus had gained independence on 16 August 1960. Cyprus’ accession to the European Union on 1st May 2004 improved the political, economic, and cultural relations between these two countries. Throughout the years, Germany and Cyprus have been able to establish close diplomatic relations, through numerous activities, missions and agreements (signed during a visit to Bonn by Makarios and Kucuk). During the Cold War, Germany was concerned about the influence of the East on Cyprus, although mostly satisfied with the development of the relations between the two countries.

Concerning political issues, there has always been a close and trustful cooperation between the two Republics. There have been visits by representatives from both countries, to each other’s countries, as well as conversations concerning the development of the ongoing negotiations between the two Cypriot communities on the island's reunification, and Turkey's EU accession process.

On an economic level, Germany is Cyprus' third largest supplier of goods, and the second most important destination for Cyprus's exports. Soon after Cyprus gained its independence, a trade and economic agreement was established between the two countries in 1961, followed by an air transport agreement (1967), a double taxation agreement (1974) and an agreement on cross-border passenger and freight transport (1980). The biggest economic relationship between the two countries nowadays is in the shipping sector.

At a cultural level, in 1971 a cultural agreement with the Republic of Cyprus was concluded. Today, the cornerstone of cultural relations between Germany and Cyprus is the Goethe Institute in Nicosia, which was re-opened in 2011.

There is a cultural association for each community, the German-Cypriot Cultural Association in the South, and the German-Turkish Cypriot Cultural Association in the North. Interest in the German language continues to grow, as evidenced by enrolment figures at the Goethe Institute and private language schools. Many Cypriots have studied in Germany, thanks to scholarships from the German foundations. Also, a centre for Interdisciplinary Cypriot Studies was established at the University of Münster in May 1997.  There are partnerships for exchange programmers from the two countries, as well.