With a reference by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Anita Demetriou, President of the House of Representatives, to the unexpected death of Minister of Labour and Social Insurance Zeta Emilienidou, today's plenary session began, during which a one-minute silence was observed in her memory.
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"We begin today's session with a reference to the untimely death of Minister of Labour and Social Insurance Zeta Aimilianidou as a tribute to the woman politician, who in her nine-year career as Minister, in the admittedly crucial and very demanding Ministry of Labour and Welfare through her dedication to duty, hard work and personal sensitivity to the citizen, not only shattered every stereotype, but also became a model politician, who through her apt, pertinent and effective interventions expanded the welfare state, strengthened the institutional legislative framework and labour rights, contributed to the consolidation of gender equality and the establishment of labour peace, and prevented labour destabilization in difficult times," Ms. She noted that Zeta Aimilianidou studied law at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and obtained a postgraduate degree from the Cyprus Institute of Marketing.
"As a public servant, she rose hierarchically through all levels of the civil service and reached the position of Director of Customs, Director of Value Added Tax and Director General of the Ministry of Energy, Trade, Industry and Tourism. She also served as Chairman of the Cyprus Energy Foundation and the Special Fund for Renewable Energy and Energy Saving and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Ports Authority. Her contribution to the drafting of key legislation for the state was also noteworthy, most notably the customs legislation, the Value Added Tax legislation and the Minimum Guaranteed Income law," he added.
She also said that as Director General of the Ministry of Energy, Trade, Industry and Tourism, she took on the difficult role of successfully completing the 2nd Licensing Round for the Exploration of Hydrocarbons in Offshore Areas of Cyprus and was Chairman of the Advisory Committee for the evaluation of the companies' applications for the five blocks of the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic.
In 2013, Ms Demetriou continued, she was appointed by the President of the Republic to the post of Minister of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance and was reappointed to the same post for a second term in 2018, which she served tirelessly until her death.
As she said, Zeta Emilienidou was not only a worthy public servant and a capable executive branch official.
"She was also a very close and valuable collaborator of the legislature, contributing her expertise through her presence in the House and in parliamentary committees whenever she was called upon and in any capacity, her experience, insight and flexibility in overcoming obstacles, in reconciling divergent views, in promoting important reform bills, with only one common denominator, the human being in need of support, in the context of a fairer society," he said.
"Zeta Aimylianidou leaves an unfulfilled void in public life and a heavy legacy for her successors and for all of us. Her memory is eternal," Ms Demetriou concluded.
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