Her Excellency Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis to be Presented
with the “Salute to Women” Award

Daughters of Penelope to Honor Cypriot Foreign Minister
 Her Excellency Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis to be Presented with the “Salute to Women” Award

WASHINGTON (January 29, 2008)—Karen Stamatiades, Grand President of the Daughters of Penelope (DOP), a preeminent international women’s organization, announced today that Her Excellency Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, foreign minister, Republic of Cyprus, will be the 2008 Salute to Women recipient.  The award will be presented Saturday, March 8, 2008, 10:30am, at the Mayflower Hotel, Washington, DC.

“We are proud to have such a distinguished individual as our honoree,” said Stamatiades.  “During her career in the foreign service, Foreign Minister Kozakou-Marcoullis has demonstrated excellence at every post at which she served.  The foreign minister also achieved academic distinction in her lifetime, earning a doctorate in sociology and political science.  She is an inspiration to women across the globe.”

Foreign Minister Kozakou-Marcoullis began her career at the Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1980.  For five years, she served as ambassador of Cyprus to the United States.  Prior to becoming foreign minister on July 16, 2007, Kozakou-Marcoullis served as Director of the Cyprus Question and EU-Turkey Affairs Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while also serving as ambassador of Cyprus to Jordan and Lebanon with residence in Nicosia.

Among the many previous honorees are:  U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe, former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Conner, Ambassador Shirley Temple Black, White House Correspondent Helen Thomas, CBS News Anchorwoman Thalia Assuras, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and Her Excellency Dora Bakoyannis, foreign minister of the Hellenic Republic. 

Established in 1970, the Salute to Women Award is celebrated biennially on the same weekend the AHEPA hosts its Biennial National Banquet in Washington.  The unprecedented award’s concept was to offer recognition to women who work toward the attainment of equal rights for all persons. 

“Today, we honor women who have inspired us by reaching their goals and who have become instrumental in the development of all facets of our society; whether it is in the arts and sciences, education, commerce, or government,” added Stamatiades.

For more information about the Salute to Women reception, please contact the Daughters of Penelope, dop@ahepa.org, or 202.234.9741.

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Founded in San Francisco in 1929, the Daughters of Penelope is the first women’s organization of its kind established in the United States.  It is an affiliate organization of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA).  The mission of the DOP is to promote the ancient Greek ideals of Hellenism, Education, Philanthropy, Civic Responsibility, and Family and Individual Excellence.  For more information, please visit www.ahepa.org/dop.

Malista!