Andreas J. Jacovides

Originally from Wikipedia · Est. Jan 2026

Andreas J. Jacovides (born 1931) is a Cypriot diplomat, international lawyer, and academic known for his extensive contributions to international law and diplomacy. He served as Ambassador of Cyprus to the United States and as Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the United Nations, and was a three-term member of the International Law Commission (ILC) from 1981 to 1996.

Career

Jacovides joined the Cyprus diplomatic service in 1960 and held senior posts for over four decades. He served as Ambassador to the United States (with non-resident accreditation to Canada, Brazil, Ecuador, and several Commonwealth countries), Germany, Austria, Denmark, and Taiwan. He was also Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York and chaired the UN Host Country Relations Committee (1992–1993). From 1986 to 1989, he was Deputy Dean of the Washington Diplomatic Corps, and served as Dean in 1989.

Jacovides was actively involved in international negotiations on the Law of the Sea during the late 1970s. He represented Cyprus in discussions that included over 150 nations working to establish comprehensive maritime regulations. His participation in these talks highlighted Cyprus's role in shaping global sea law frameworks.

He represented Cyprus at numerous international conferences, including the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1968–69), the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1973–1982), and was a signatory to the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) Convention. He also participated in the drafting of the International Criminal Court statutes and negotiated bilateral treaties with the United States and Canada.

In March 1989, Jacovides was mentioned in The Washington Post in connection with social and diplomatic circles in Washington, D.C. The article highlighted his presence among prominent figures, reflecting his active role in international diplomacy and engagement with U.S. political society.

Published opinions

Jacovides contributed to international discourse through opinion pieces and letters to major publications. In March 1992, he published a letter in The New York Times addressing issues of global diplomacy and international relations, reflecting his active engagement in foreign policy debates.

In September 2009, Jacovides wrote a letter published in The New York Times discussing Turkey's role in regional politics and its relationship with Cyprus. His commentary reflected ongoing concerns about diplomatic tensions and the prospects for reconciliation in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Jacovides earned his legal qualifications as a Barrister-at-Law from the Middle Temple in 1959. He taught public international law at the New School for Social Research (1963–65) and served as a supervisor at Cambridge University (1958–59). He lectured at the London School of Economics, the Rhodes Academy on Maritime Law and Policy, and San Diego Law School.

He published extensively on topics including the Law of the Sea, UN peacekeeping, state responsibility, and the Cyprus conflict. He contributed to volumes such as the Memorial Volume for John McMahon and the International Law Commission Publications.

Arbitration and judicial service

Jacovides served as an arbitrator and senior judge on the Claims Resolution Tribunal for Dormant Swiss Accounts in Zurich (1998–2002), and as Commissioner on the UN Compensation Commission (UNCC), Panel F-3. He was also involved in arbitration cases under the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), including disputes involving Georgia and Venezuela.

Honors and affiliations

He received decorations from the governments of Greece (1976) and Austria (1992). Jacovides was a long-standing member of the American Society of International Law (ASIL) and the International Law Association (ILA), American Branch. His special interests within international law include claims, criminal law, dispute settlement, treaties, and corporate governance.

Personal life

In May 1979, Andreas J. Jacovides married Pamela Karrh in a ceremony held in the Bahamas. At the time, Jacovides was serving as a diplomat, and the wedding was noted in The New York Times for its international significance and social prominence.

Jacovides maintained residences in New York City (Sutton House), Nicosia, and Paphos, Cyprus. He is fluent in Greek and English.

Bibliography

  • Jacovides, Andreas J. International Law and Diplomacy: Selected Writings. Leiden: Brill, 2011.
  • Jacovides, Andreas J. Cyprus: Legal and Political Issues. Nicosia: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2002.
  • Jacovides, Andreas J. “The Law of the Sea and the Cyprus Problem.” In: Marine Policy (various issues).
  • Jacovides, Andreas J. “UN Peacekeeping and the Cyprus Question.” In: International Law Commission Publications.
  • Jacovides, Andreas J. “State Responsibility and Peremptory Norms.” In: Memorial Volume for John McMahon.
  • Jacovides, Andreas J. Selected Speeches and Statements on Cyprus and International Law. Nicosia: Government Printing Office, various years.

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