Cyprus picks veteran as foreign minister after incumbent bows out

NICOSIA (Reuters) – Cyprus will appoint veteran politician Ioannis Kasoulides as its new foreign minister, replacing Nikos Christodoulides who has resigned his post, the president’s office said on Monday.

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FILE PHOTO: Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland and and Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides are seen before a Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Nicosia

Kasoulides, who held the foreign ministry portfolio under two different presidents, will take up his duties on Tuesday, a statement from the office of President Nicos Anastasiades said.

Christodoulides announced his resignation on Sunday in an internal power struggle within the ruling right-wing Democratic Rally party over their choice of candidate for presidential elections next year.

A career diplomat, Christodoulides has not ruled out running for president. Averof Neophytou, the head of the Rally party, formally submitted his candidacy for his party’s nomination on Monday.

(Reporting By Michele Kambas; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)