Yiannis Ioannou
A new chapter begins at the Greek Embassy in Nicosia as veteran diplomat Constantinos Kollias officially takes over as Greece’s new ambassador to Cyprus, succeeding Ioannis Papameletiou, whose term ended after a successful tenure.
Kollias, no stranger to Cyprus, brings with him more than 30 years of diplomatic experience and a deep understanding of the Cyprus issue. He previously served on the island from 2003 to 2008, during a critical time marked by the Annan Plan negotiations. At the time, he was the embassy’s political affairs counselor.
Diplomatic circles view Kollias as a top-tier professional with strong credentials in energy diplomacy and Eastern Mediterranean geopolitics. Before his appointment to Nicosia, he was Greece’s permanent representative to the OSCE in Vienna. He has also led key departments within Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the Cyprus Affairs Directorate and the Directorate for International Energy Affairs.
His appointment is seen as a strong signal of continuity and commitment from Athens, as both countries continue to closely coordinate on regional and international matters.
Kollias has been honored by the Republic of Cyprus with the Order of Makarios III and the Grand Commander of the Order of Merit — recognition of his long-standing contribution to Greek-Cypriot relations.
Who is Constantinos Kollias?
Born in Athens in 1964, Kollias studied political and legal sciences at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. He speaks English, French, and Spanish; is married and has two children.
His diplomatic career spans postings in Albania, Spain, Romania, and Austria, as well as multiple leadership roles at Greece’s Foreign Ministry. In 2016, he was promoted to the rank of minister plenipotentiary.
Cypriot officials have welcomed the appointment, noting that his previous service and deep institutional memory make him exceptionally well-positioned to continue building strong ties between the two nations.
