Cyprus Ambassador: Pastures New for True Friend of China

The best thing about vivacious Excellency Loria Markides, the Cyprus Ambassador to China and five other Asian countries, is that for the past three years she has dedicated herself to this part of the world with inimitable style and grace. The saddest thing for the countries within her diplomatic orbit is that she departs her Beijing embassy early this month to become her country's ambassador to Finland and Estonia.

Diplomats throughout the capital agree that Markides was an unusually committed, hands-on ambassador (average working day 8.30am to 11pm) who will be sorely missed, including by ordinary Chinese with whom she came into close contact and aided. As one former Chinese ambassador said at a private lunch: "Loria came here from a tiny country, but brought with her a heart as big as China itself. She involved herself in what seems all things at all levels, always with unfailing charm and insight. She loves this land, its people and their values. Her government must be very proud of the excellent job she has done."

In a farewell interview, Markides disclosed that she had long been interested in the roles of Chinese women in all strata of society. "This stemmed from the time early in my career when I was based in Geneva, where I was involved in issues surrounding women's rights," she recalled. "My first visit to China, as a tourist, was in 1991, and even then I was impressed by the dynamism of so many Chinese women. Great changes have of course taken place since then, and today that dynamism seems more intense.

"It delights me to see more and more women holding high office at all levels of government, including provincial and local governments, and in the party, numerous institutions, commerce and industry. This is admirable, because their presence can affect legislation, especially in matters such as the Marriage Law. Such women also contribute greatly to provincial women, especially those in western China.

"Then there are women in business. They want success, but in achieving it they don't abandon their Confucian principles. I have noticed that their nationalistic attitude is not because of foreign influences, but due more to their natural Chinese femininity. When all the heads of state got together in Shanghai recently, it was delightful to see so many Chinese women wearing dresses based on old-time fashions, much like presidents Jiang Zemin and George Bush, and all the other heads, wore those charming Chinese jackets. It was all so elegant.

"Of course, it's different in rural areas, where women rarely have the chance to look elegant. They are far more intent on aiming for a better future for themselves and their families. It's no secret that country women still have a long way to go to achieve gender equality."

Women of every culture, maintains Markides, try to avail themselves of every opportunity to succeed in their field. "This is equally true in China, including among young women," she said. "I have noticed a healthy tendency among them to go overseas to learn from the experience of other cultures. It's not that they want to emigrate from China. They just want to see for themselves, then come back. This is very good for society and civilization generally."

How has Markides coped in representing Cyprus in China as well as Japan, Mongolia, the Philippines, Pakistan and North Korea--meanwhile raising teenage daughter Eleni, who stayed with her in Beijing? "Only she was with me here," she said, "but I coped because I worked hard." She explained that her husband of 26 years, Nikos--"the boss of the family"--is committed to his business in Cyprus while the couple's 24-year-old son, Christos, is at a British university.

While her husband and family fully support her career, separation comes at a price. "What I do can never be easy, and I find little time to relax. In a way I suppose I'm punishing myself, but I'm driven by a career I always wanted." She joined her nation's foreign service in 1981, and held administrative posts before becoming deputy representative to the United Nations in Geneva from 1993-97.

A farewell message for China? "I consider myself very lucky to have served here for three years, during which time I have seen and admired people's achievements. I wish China and all her citizens well in the future."