Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-03-13

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

Wednesday, 13 March 2002

CONTENTS

• [01] Former President of the Republic Mr Spyros Kyprianou dies of cancer

[01] Former President of the Republic Mr Spyros Kyprianou dies of cancer

The President of the Republic Mr Glafcos Clerides expressed his deep sorrow for the death of "the fellow fighter, the associate and the friend' in a statement issued yesterday:

"It is with great grief that I was informed of the death of a distinguished son of Cyprus, Spyros Kyprianou. Cyprus is mourning today.

I bid farewell to the fellow fighter, the associate, the friend, the man who for more than half a century served the country from various posts: that of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, President of the House of Representatives, President of the Republic.

To his wife Mimi and his children Achilleas and Marcos I extend my sincere condolences and those of my Government and wish them strength and courage to cope with this great loss."

Mr Kyprianou was born in Limassol on 28th October 1932. He studied Economics and Commerce at the City of London College, and Law at Grey's Inn. He also studied Comparative Law and was awarded a diploma.

While still a student in London, Mr Kyprianou founded the National Union of Cypriot students (E.F.E.K.A), of which he was the first President. In 1952, he was appointed Secretary of Archbishop Makarios in London and in 1954 he assumed responsibility for the Office of the Secretary of the Cyprus Ethnarchy in London, the major objective of which was to enlighten the British public opinion on the Cyprus issue.

From August 1956 to March 1957, he represented the Cyprus Ethnarchy in New York and then returned to the same post in London, where he stayed until the signing of the London Zurich Agreements for the independence of Cyprus.

With the declaration of independence in August 1960, the then President of the Republic Archbishop Makarios appointed him Minister of Justice and a few days later Minister of Foreign Affairs (1960-72), a post from which he resigned in May 1972, after a serious disagreement with the military regime in Athens.

After his resignation, he worked as a lawyer and a legal counsellor. In September 1974, he headed the Cyprus delegation to the UN General Assembly during the debate on Cyprus and in February 1975 he attended the Security Council meeting in New York as a member of the Cyprus delegation.

On 12 May 1976, he announced the establishment of the Democratic Party. At the parliamentary elections on 5 September 1976, the Democratic Party won 21 out of a total of 35 seats in the House of Representatives and Mr Kyprianou was elected President of the House.

After the death of Archbishop Makarios on 3 August 1977, Mr Kyprianou became Acting President of the Republic in accordance with the Constitution and on September of the same year, he was unanimously elected President of the Republic in order to serve the remaining term of office of Archbishop Makarios. At the presidential elections of 28 February 1978 and 13 February 1983 he was again elected President of the Republic, the first time elected unopposed.

During his years as President of the Republic (1977-88) Mr Kyprianou visited many countries and took part in various sessions of the United Nations, as well as in summit conferences of the Non Aligned Movement and the Commonwealth.

Following the parliamentary elections of May 26 1996, Mr Kyprianou was elected President of the House of Representatives, a post he held until May 2001.

Mr Spyros Kyprianou was married and had two sons.

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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