Menelaos Menelaou
Born in Nicosia on 23 October 1974.
Attended the Pallouriotissa Primary School from 1980 to 1986 and continued with higher education at the English School Nicosia from 1986 to 1993.
From 1993 to 1995 I fulfilled my military service at the Cyprus National Guard from where I was released with the rank of reserve Second Lieutenant.
Ι hold a degree (BΑ) in Turkish Studies from the Department of Turkish and Middle Eastern Studies of the University of Cyprus (1999) and a master’s degree (MA) in International Relations and European Studies from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (2001).
In October 2001, I was appointed as an Attaché at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served in the Cyprus Question Division until February 2003, when I was seconded to the Presidency of the Republic as a member of the Diplomatic Office of President Tassos Papadopoulos.
In February 2008, I was reappointed to the President’s Diplomatic Office and as a member of the Negotiating Team in the Negotiations for the Cyprus Problem from March 2008 to February 2013 under President Demetris Christofias.
From September 2012 until February 2013, with the rank of Second Counselor, I also served as Deputy Director of the President’s Diplomatic Office.
From March 1, 2013, I returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where I served in the Cyprus and Turkey Directorate until January 2014.
From February 3, 2014, I served as Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cyprus to the United Nations, New York where I served until July 2018.
From August 2018 until May 2022, I served as Head of the Cyprus and Turkey Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nicosia.
As of 16 May 2022, I have been appointed by President Nicos Anastasiades, as the Negotiator of the Greek Cypriot side for the Cyprus Problem.
I am married to Panagiota Demetriou, a primary school teacher with whom we have a 13-year-old son, Stavros and an 11 year-old daughter, Phaedra- Maria.