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List of high commissioners of Australia to Cyprus

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The high commissioner of Australia to Cyprus is an officer of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the head of the High Commission of the Commonwealth of Australia in Nicosia, with responsibility for both the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus and the unrecognised Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The position has the rank and status of an ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary and is currently held by Fiona McKergow since January 2022. There has been a resident Australian high commissioner in Cyprus since 1982, from 1973 to 1982 the Ambassador to Greece held non-resident accreditation for Cyprus.[1]

Quick facts High Commissioner of Australia to Cyprus, Style ...
High Commissioner of Australia to Cyprus
Incumbent
Fiona McKergow
since January 2022
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
StyleHer Excellency
Reports toMinister for Foreign Affairs
ResidenceNicosia
NominatorPrime Minister of Australia
AppointerGovernor General of Australia
Inaugural holderFrancis Hall (resident in Athens)
Formation19 April 1973
WebsiteAustralian High Commission, Cyprus
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Posting history

Following the independence of Cyprus on 16 August 1960, Australia maintained low level relations and contacts with the new Cypriot Government, with the Australian Embassy in Athens, Greece, having reporting responsibility for Cyprus. In response to a question on the status of Australia's relations with Cyprus from the Leader of the Opposition, Gough Whitlam, in the House of Representatives, on 28 March 1972 the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Nigel Bowen, noted to the Parliament: "Australia’s bilateral relations with the Republic of Cyprus have not been considered sufficiently substantial at this stage to justify the dual accreditation of an Australian high commissioner to Cyprus from another post. However, the Australian Embassy in Athens has a general responsibility for reporting on Cyprus and the staff of the Embassy visit Cyprus at regular intervals."[2] However, not longer after this response, the Australian Government appointed the serving Ambassador to Greece, Francis Hall, as the non-resident accredited high commissioner to Cyprus from 19 April 1973.[3] In July 1975, the Australian Government announced the establishment of a resident High Commission in Nicosia, initially under an acting high commissioner.[4] The first resident high commissioner, Mary McPherson, commenced office from 9 February 1982.[5]

Heads of mission

High commissioners resident in Athens, Greece

NameStart of termEnd of termReferences
Francis Hall19 April 1973July 1974[6][3]
Donald HorneJuly 1974June 1976[7][8]
Sir Les JohnsonJune 1976June 1980[9][10]
Marshall JohnstonJune 19809 February 1982[11][12][13]

Resident high commissioners

NameStart of termEnd of termReferences
Alister William Savage (Acting)12 August 1975December 1977[4]
Erica Fielding Grimwade (Acting)December 19779 February 1982[5]
Mary McPherson9 February 19824 October 1985[5]
David Wadham4 October 1985October 1988[14][15]
Edward StevensNovember 1988December 1994[16]
John SullivanJanuary 1995December 1997[17]
Howard Craig BrownJanuary 1998April 2000[18]
Franz IngruberApril 2000March 2004[19]
Garth HuntMarch 2004June 2008[20]
Evan WilliamsJune 2008August 2011[21]
Trevor PeacockSeptember 2011September 2015[22]
Alan SweetmanSeptember 2015September 2018[23]
Samuel BeeverSeptember 2018December 2021[24][25]
Fiona McKergowJanuary 2022January 2026[26][27]

References

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