The ceremony of appointment of the first Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic Mr. Speaking at the ceremony, the President of the Republic, Mr. Nicos Anastasiades, was present.
Speaking at the ceremony, the President of the Republic said that "today's confirmation ceremony of the first Deputy Minister of Culture, our friend Mr. Yannis Toumazis, is a historic day for the promotion of culture as the cornerstone of the identity and physiognomy of our people.
The ultimate purpose of the creation of the autonomous administrative structure is the optimal coordination of existing services and, therefore, the overall management of monuments, projects and activities related to culture and the arts.
The development of the Cultural Services, the Cyprus Library, the Cyprus Crafts and part of the activities of the Cyprus Theatre Organisation and the supervised organisations, as well as the subsequent integration of the Department of Antiquities, with the Deputy Minister as its political head, fall within this framework.
As specified in the law, the main responsibilities of the Deputy Minister, among others, provide for.
Ø The recording and cataloguing by conventional and/or digital means of the cultural heritage in the occupied areas.
Ø The management, supervision, support, strengthening and further development of the infrastructure and cultural institutions.
Ø The strengthening and professionalisation of workers in the cultural and creative industries.
Ø The strengthening and professionalisation of workers in the cultural and creative industries.
Ø The development and strengthening of all contemporary art forms, music, theatre and literature, popular poetry and folklore, as well as applied arts.
Ø The formulation of policies to promote and support investment in culture.
Ø The formulation of policies to promote and support investment in culture.
Ø The further strengthening and upgrading of the role of Cyprus in European and international institutions on issues related to culture.
Ø The utilisation of European programmes and funds related to culture.
Ø The development of cultural cooperation and diplomacy with other countries.
As the President noted, the areas of competence and actions of the Deputy Ministry of Culture were also the objectives we had set when we took over the governance of the country.
"It is within this framework that we have promoted, placing at the heart of our priorities, the support of artistic expression, openness to Civil Society and the strengthening of interculturalism.
By way of indication only, I would like to mention some of the actions during the period when there was no Ministry of State, but there were the Cultural Services, there was the governance programme, such as, among others.
[*]The strengthening of cultural activities focusing on literature, visual arts, music, dance, popular culture, theatre and cinema on the basis of the 'Culture' allocation programme and the 'Thymeli' project.
[*]The support of the Lefkosia, Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos Writers' Shelters and the Nicosia and Limassol Contemporary Dance Shelters.
[*]The support of the Lefkosia, Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos Contemporary Dance Shelters.
[*]The implementation of dozens of programmes in municipalities and communities as well as artistic workshops aimed at involving as many young people as possible in the creative process.
[*]The establishment of a mobile theatre performance unit in dozens of mountain communities, which do not have easy access to the theatre.
[*]The promotion of cultural diversity and the strengthening of cultural pluralism, which is a fundamental principle of UNESCO, by supporting cultural programmes of the Latins, Armenians and Maronites.
[*]The creation of a literary archive with the aim of preserving, preserving, promoting and exploiting Cypriot literature, promoting research and linking it with society.
[*]The reconfiguration of the State Gallery of Contemporary Art.
[*]The launching of the procedures for the construction of the new building of the Cyprus Library and the Cultural Village of Lebas.
[*]The rolling, following a decision, and promotion of the construction of the Archaeological Museum, for the delay of which I do not want to make any mention, but those who will come will understand what the fight against bureaucracy and decisions that have nothing to do with the will of the Government means.
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With what I have mentioned, I want to be clear: I do not believe that we have exhausted our obligations to culture and its creators, which is why my reference to the historicity of today is not accidental.
The creation of the Deputy Ministry of Culture will give new impetus and new dimensions for a more effective and coherent upgrade in the management of Cyprus' cultural wealth.
And I want to state that I feel absolutely and particularly happy, because the decision to appoint Mr. Yannis Toumazis as the first Deputy Minister of Culture was based not only on his high academic and scientific qualifications, but also on his multifaceted activity in all areas of culture.
A creativity that is also reflected in a well-constructed and costed programme of actions for all sectors of culture, which I fully agree with and will therefore have my decisive support.
My dear John, congratulating you and wishing you every success in the complex and varied work you are called upon to perform, I have no doubt that you will achieve the objectives, and I want you to be sure of the support of the State in what we will really transform with meaning, cultural actions.
"It is with great satisfaction and a sense of responsibility that I assume these duties."
For his part, the Deputy Minister of Culture, after thanking the President for his appointment, said, among other things, that "it is with great satisfaction and a sense of responsibility that I assume these duties. It is with satisfaction because of the fact that Culture now acquires a state status, an independent, flexible and autonomous administrative structure which will be dedicated to the promotion of the culture of Cyprus, our cultural heritage, but also of modern and contemporary culture.
At the same time I take up this position with a sense of responsibility towards the cultural community of Cyprus and I stress that the political and strategic plans of the Deputy Ministry of Culture are extremely people-oriented.
And at the centre of them are the creators and producers of culture.
Your Government, through the establishment of the Ministry of Culture, is actively declaring its commitment to the modern concept that considers culture the new soft power, equal to diplomacy, the economy and the power of defence armaments.
We intend to make use of this power, it is our main weapon.
This power is our main weapon. In cultural diplomacy, in attracting investment and human capital, in developing cultural tourism, but above all in creating and consolidating a strong image for our country with all the benefits this entails in the international arena."
Finally, he said that "our priority is to highlight the importance of culture in general and the cultural creative industries in particular as agents of economic development and cohesion", by strengthening extroversion through international and European cooperation.
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