It is with deep sorrow and great pain that
I was informed tonight of the death of the former President of the Republic of
Cyprus Glafcos Clerides.
Glafcos Clerides has been throughout his
historic course a political leader of international stature, who succeeded in
serving far-reaching political visions. He was present in all the struggles,
not only of our small homeland, but also of humanity. He served in the Second
World War, he was present in the Cyprus anticolonial liberation struggle of
EOKA during 1955-1959 and was a prominent pioneer and pillar of the Republic of
Cyprus.
During the tragic years of national discord,
Glafcos Clerides was the composed, consensual and moderate leader, who
kept himself away from and above the quarrels and rivalries. He reconstituted
the state from the ruins of the national tragedy of 1974, leaving his mark on
the consolidation of the Republic. Glafcos Clerides was elected for two terms
as President of the Republic of Cyprus, which he delivered as a full member of
the European Union.
I express my deep sorrow and my great pain
for his loss. At the same time, however, I feel proud that I have served by his
side. The weight of the legacy that Glafcos Clerides, the man and the
politician, has left us is enormous.
I have already expressed my sincere and
warm condolences to his family and especially to his daughter Kaitie. Our
thoughts will be with them at this difficult time.
I am interrupting my trip to Sri Lanka
immediately and I am returning to Cyprus at the earliest possible.
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