Nicosia: The Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts has announced the establishment of a Cultural Diplomacy Research Office, which will serve as its hub for scientific and research activities related to cultural diplomacy, international cultural relations, and cultural policy. Academician Marios Joannou Elia has been appointed as the Scientific Director of the Office and will also chair its Steering Committee.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Joannou Elia described cultural diplomacy as a field intersecting knowledge, creativity, and international engagement. "Through the establishment of the Office, we seek to connect research with diplomacy, artistic creation, and international networks, creating new opportunities for cooperation and for a meaningful presence of Cyprus in the world," he stated.
The Steering Committee also comprises Academician Elena Mouzala as Vice-Chair, Academician Kyriakos Demetriou as Secretary, and Christina Ioannou as Administrative Secretary. The Academy's announcement highlighted that the Office's establishment is part of its strategy to bolster scientific research, international cooperation, and the promotion of Cyprus through culture, science, arts, and letters.
The Office's primary mission is to advance research, documentation, and academic study in cultural diplomacy, as well as to develop initiatives aimed at enhancing the international cultural presence of Cyprus and the Academy itself. It will collaborate with various academies of sciences, universities, research centers, cultural institutions, and international organizations. Additionally, it will work closely with the Presidency of the Republic, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Deputy Ministry of Culture, and corresponding institutions in other countries to promote cultural diplomacy and intercultural dialogue.
The Office's activities will encompass scientific studies and research, the development of international partnerships and networks, organizing international conferences, symposia, scientific lectures, workshops, and exhibitions, as well as cultural and artistic events. It will publish scientific books and studies and participate in European and international research programs.
Through its initiatives, the Office aims to promote Cyprus' cultural heritage, contemporary intellectual and artistic creation, and scientific output while strengthening the Republic's international presence through cultural diplomacy. The Academy emphasized that the establishment of the Cultural Diplomacy Research Office is a significant institutional initiative that enhances its role as a leading scientific and intellectual institution in Cyprus and an active partner in the international academic and cultural community.