From Philosopher to Ambassador
Q&A with Leonidas Pantelides, Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus
Name: Leonidas Pantelides | Age: 63 | Hometown: Nicosia, Cyprus
Ambassador to the U.S. since: June 27, 2016
You have a PhD in philosophy and have published a book on the concept of time. How did you make the transition from philosopher to diplomat?
It was completely out of the blue. I had a cousin who worked in the department that processed applications for government jobs. When she saw the announcement for new positions at the foreign ministry she took one of the applications and came to my house in the evening after work. She gave me the application and told me I should apply for this job because this was the right job for me. We had a coffee, she went away, and I didn’t apply.
There was a round of examinations, interviews, and so on, and the foreign ministry decided not to take any of the candidates that had applied and re-advertised the position. This cousin came back to my house another evening with another blank application and said, “This time, I’m not going away. While I’m having my coffee, you fill it out, and I’ll take it with me.” I applied, at the insistence of someone else, who thought it was the right job for me.
So the path to a diplomatic career offered itself at the right moment at the right time. I became a diplomat by accident.
For a rather long time in the beginning I thought it was temporary. I thought this was something I would do for a while and then I would revert to what I had thought about originally. But once I was in, for some reason, maybe because I was so different than the others, I had a very quick path to the top. I was promoted very fast, I was given important assignments, and it became increasingly more difficult to leave.
At some point I also thought, maybe it’s better in life not to be professionally involved with the thing you like the best. Because if you’re involved with it on a routine basis, it may kill the love affair you have with it.
How did your background in Philosophy prepare you for work as a diplomat?
I deeply believe that ideas are important. In the world of politics, in society, even in daily life, there is a link — no matter how indirect it may be — between more abstract thinking and more practical activities.
We need ideas. People that can think well can contribute to acting effectively in the world.
You’ve served as ambassador to Russia, Greece, Sweden, and Switzerland. Did you have a favorite post?
You cannot compare Greece to Sweden, you cannot compare Switzerland to the U.S. When you go to a place to live there for a while, you try to understand that place for what it is in a unique way. You don’t compare. You leave behind your other experiences.
What are your favorite parts of the job?
I will tell you what my least favorite part of the job is, and it’s having meetings. And close to it would be the social responsibilities of the job — receptions and all these things. When people talk, you can go in one of two directions. Either you talk to produce beauty, or you talk to get things done. My problem with meetings and a lot of people talking is that they confuse these two. The real object of meetings is to decide things, to get things done. If you’re going to talk in order to talk, which is what happens a lot in these meetings, I can think of more fine ways to do it. I’m very impatient with what I call excessive or unnecessary chatting that takes up people’s valuable time during their work day.
So what do you enjoy most about the job?
When in negotiations or in conversations with other people, especially in situations of conflict, confrontation, or difficult situations, you manage to see a way through.
I think that’s the basic instinct that characterizes a diplomat: finding solutions to conflicting interests.
When you feel that you are contributing to that, in small or big ways, then I think that’s the high point in a diplomat’s career. Because that’s what diplomacy is all about. Yes, it’s representing your country and so on, but the basic instinct driving diplomats is bridging different interests. Bridging different perceptions, bringing different realities, and so on.
What has been your greatest accomplishment in your career?
Achievements are not necessarily judged right away, and they are not necessarily judged by you. Sometimes it takes a long time before the real meaning of some decision you made becomes apparent. I had to make very difficult decisions in my career and at some points I felt that I had to stand alone, against the advice of well-meaning friends, with the belief that in time it would become clear that I was right, even though I didn’t make the common sense decision. Virtue is its own reward. Sometimes you do things because you believe it’s important to do things in that way.
If you remain consistent and true to your principles — for me — it’s an achievement, even if it may ruin your career.
Let’s talk about DC. You first came to Washington back in 1989, what have you noticed about the city that’s changed?
The Eastern part of the city has definitely changed. Washington has changed. The policy environment has changed in the last 25 years. Being region-specific, I find that there is a lot more interest, knowledge, and awareness of the region that I come from — the Eastern Mediterranean, Southern Europe, the Middle East, and so on. The number of people that know and study the region today in Washington does not compare to what was the case 25 years ago. It is much more interesting for me to talk to and listen to these people but also I find that my job is easier. The policy environment is different because there is much greater awareness of the region’s problems. In the last 25 years we’ve had a number of wars in the region and there has been more media attention to the region — the two Gulf Wars, Arab Spring. It’s easier for me to begin a conversation without having to explain the preliminaries. It’s easier for me to argue that Cyprus is a value in itself, it’s a chapter in itself, it’s a dossier in itself. And that it’s not important because somebody else is important.
What has it been like working together with the Member State ambassadors and the EU delegation?
My observation in Washington is that the group of EU ambassadors here is not so closely knit because everybody has important national priorities, so the common work of the EU seems to take second place for most of us. Whereas in Geneva, by comparison, our collective impact in UN work was our priority. We didn’t have national priorities which superseded our collective efforts in the other UN bodies. We met more often, we were more close with each other, we consulted on everything. This is not my impression the last few weeks I have been here. Each ambassador has very important national priorities which take precedence to the common work of the European Union. I don’t mean it as a criticism, it’s just my observation.
Is there anything you hope to see the EU in the US accomplish during your time in DC?
We have to wait to see what will happen with the U.S. election because the agenda will have to be reviewed in the new year depending on the outcome of the election. We will have to make a judgment of what is possible with the U.S. in terms of trade agreements.
What do you like about life in DC?
The green. Even though the heat is uncomfortable in the summer, the semi-tropical climate is a change for me. I planted some Cyprus beans in my backyard and they seem to be growing at least twelve times faster than they would grow in Cyprus. It’s the combination of humidity and warmth. The ease with which things grow, the amount of green than there is, it’s an experience. I come from a very dry place and to grow a tree in Cyprus you really have to nurture it and be very patient. It takes a very long time, and a very big effort. Even to grow herbs you have to really take care of them. Here, it seems to happen spontaneously.
If you weren’t a diplomat, and if you weren’t a philosopher, what would you be?
That’s an interesting point. An extremely successful woman that I admire greatly and had the fortune of working with in Cyprus, who had been attorney general and minister of justice, one time when I was working with her I noticed that she was keeping very detailed notes and recording all conversations that she was having. So one time I asked her, why do you do that? And she said, “Leonidas, you know that there are certain basic professions and we all have the instinct of one of these.” And she said, “Mine is to be a secretary. If I were not this legal expert, I would have been a secretary.” And from that time, I always thought, if I wasn’t what I am, what is that basic profession that I think that I have the instinct for? I think it’s being a taxi driver. It’s finding my way around — I think that is my basic instinct. And if you remember, I defined diplomacy as getting from A to B. Building bridges and finding the way through.
What is something that you are proud of in your life?
I will answer philosophically, if that’s okay. Nietzsche had the idea of the eternal recurrence of the same. Imagine your life will be as it has been — over and over again. What is your reaction to that?
When you look back at your life thinking that this is the only choice, does that make you sad or does it make you happy? Are you happy about who you are? About the choices you made? I would say overall looking back, I would choose the same life.
Of course, you don’t make the same mistakes and you have the benefit of hindsight. Some things you do differently, but the fundamental choices I would make again.
What things do you like to do your free time (aside from philosophy)?
All the things that bring you in contact with nature or at least the illusion that you are away from civilization. In today’s world you’re never really far away. You are always very near your telephone, and your car, and a bottle of water, and so on. But this illusion that you’re alone with nature is important to us. It renews our spirits. It readjusts and recalibrates our perspectives. So things that bring you close to nature. Whether it’s walks, hikes, riding your bike, running a remote trail, or swimming in a river.
What are some places that are on the top of your travel list for the U.S.?
Kentucky, because of the green. I remember a visit there many, many years ago. I also enjoy the Shenandoah Mountains very much. The ocean — I’m not that optimistic that I will really like it because I’m spoiled by the Mediterranean. I prefer calm waters. I need to go west, that’s the other thing.
What is something that most people don’t know about you?
I very much love cooking. And carpentry. I really enjoy the practical things, the other side of life to philosophy. Being absorbed in a task, like woodworking, furniture building, and also cooking.
What are some of your favorite dishes to cook?
Well, Mediterranean, of course! Some kind of fish in the oven, with salads, of course. But Greek eating is not just one dish — you add olives, peppers, chickpeas, dips and sauces, and whatever else you like.
Do you like making any American dishes?
I love making hamburgers and steaks. But, I avoid making them too often. I try not to eat too much meat.
Do you have any guilty pleasures?
All pleasures are both guilty and okay. Well, a guilty pleasure I think about, but I don’t have, is riding a motorcycle which I used to own but I don’t own one anymore. It makes people nervous when I talk about it.
If there was one thing you could share with Americans about Cyprus, what would it be?
That it’s worth a visit. It’s a place that receives four visitors a year for every resident. Just don’t come in the four weeks of high summer (middle of July to middle of August)…unless you like heat.
What advice would you give to young people today?
I will put Socrates’ advice in a positive way: that the examined life is more worth living. He said that the unexamined life is not worth living.
Think! God gave us the brains, not as a decoration, not as a decorative element. It’s what characterizes human beings, their ability to think.
This story is part of the @EUintheUS “Ambassador Spotlight Series,” featuring in-depth, personal interviews with ambassadors from the European Union’s 28 member states. Follow our publication and stay tuned for the next story.
