There are too many challenges and they cannot be dealt with by the political head of the Ministry alone, without good cooperation between the departments and colleagues, said on Wednesday new Minister of Justice and Public Order, Anna Procopiou, during the handover ceremony, at the Ministry of Justice.
The new and outgoing Ministers were welcomed by the Director General of the Ministry, Dr. Louis Panagi, who, on behalf of all the employees and officials of the Ministry, thanked and said goodbye to outgoing Minister Stephie Drakos for her services. At the same time, he welcomed the new Minister, wishing her a good start and success in her new duties.
Panagi noted that Drakou and the Ministry were called upon to face great and unprecedented challenges in the last twenty months. He added that Drakou had a catalytic contribution to the promotion and passing of important bills.
Drakou congratulated Procopiou on her appointment and wished her every success in the difficult task she is undertaking. “I am handing over to you a Ministry with many different responsibilities, but all equally important and demanding. Justice, Human Rights, Police, Fire, Prisons and State Archive,” she said.
She added that a remarkable infrastructure project has been produced in the Ministry during her short course, which started in July 2021. The reform of justice, with the aim of a faster and more efficient delivery, has started to be implemented, with the passing of five historic bills, she noted.
Drakos also pointed out that the Ministry of Justice is, by its very nature, faced with many challenges, “a fact that makes the responsibility you undertake important and multifaceted.” However, Drakos continued, addressing Procopiou, “I assure you that it has the human resources to be able to cope with any difficulty. It is staffed by worthy and capable officials, who I am sure will stand by you with dedication and professionalism.”
She thanked all her colleagues for their great effort and President Anastasiades for the opportunity he gave her to serve as Minister of Justice and Public Order.
For her part, Procopiou said that “everyone has warned me that this Ministry is a difficult Ministry. But at the same time I must say that the words of Drakos and the love and trust she has shown me in the last few days and all the good things she has said about all of you in the Ministry, but more importantly the work that has been produced by the Ministry shows that it can be a Ministry which with the cooperation of all of us will improve our lives.”
She explained that the Ministry of Justice includes many departments that affect the daily life of all citizens such as security and law enforcement. Procopiou underlined that there are too many challenges and they cannot be dealt with by the political head of the Ministry alone, without there being good cooperation between departments and colleagues.
“I am looking forward to a very positive beginning and I am sure that our cooperation will be very good. I am at your disposal and my door will always be open”, concluded the new Minister.
SOURCE: CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY