Anastasiades was born on May 4, 1953, in Famagusta in northeastern Cyprus. From 1965 to 1971 he attended the First Gymnasium for Boys. After two years in the National Service, he enrolled in Britain’s Kettering College, which he attended from 1973 to 1974. He then studied Psychology at the University of Birmingham from 1974 to 1977, completing his doctoral research by 1980. While he was a student, Turkish forces invaded northern Cyprus in 1974 and, as Anastasiades put it, “I became a refugee in my own country.”

 

From 1981 to 1991, Anastasiades worked as a senior scientific research officer at the University of Oxford. In 1991 he joined Cyprus’s Diplomatic Service, initially serving as an attaché in the Political Affairs Division. In 1993 he was appointed Second Secretary at Cyprus’ Embassy in Washington, D.C., and in 1997 he was promoted to First Secretary. That year, Anastasiades was transferred to the Cyprus Embassy in Stockholm, where he was promoted to Second Counsellor in 1999, and First Counsellor in 2001.

 

From 2002 to 2003, Anastasiades served at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs EU Division in Nocisia. From 2003 to 2005, he was Director of the Foreign Minister’s Office.

 

Between 2005 and 2010, Anastasiades served as Cyprus’ Ambassador to Sweden, as well as—beginning on February 2, 2006—its Non-Resident Ambassador to Norway.

 

Anastasiades and his wife, Maria Antonopoulou-Anastasiades, have a daughter, Chloe-Alcestes.

 

Official Bio

The Republic of Cyprus: Seeking Unity (interview by Alan Dessoff, Washington International