4th President of Cyprus. A member of the Democratic Rally Party, he served as president from February 28, 1993 to February 28, 2003. Prior to becoming president, he was a prisoner of war until the end of the World War II after his British Royal Air Force airplane was shot down over Germany. In 1948 he earned a degree in law at King's College in London and became a lawyer in Cyprus. He became heavily involved in Cypriot independence from the British. He participated in the 1959 London Conference and was then made minister of justice during the transition phase to independence. In 1960 he was elected to the House of Representatives. From 1961 to 1963 he held the position of President of the Cyprus Red Cross. After Turkey invaded Cyprus, which effectively divided the island, he was negotiator for the Greek Cypriot side in talks with the Turkish Cypriots. He was a candidate for the presidency of Cyprus six times and elected to two five-year terms, in 1993 and in 1998. In 1998 his main opponent was Georgios Iakovou. He was defeated in the 2003 presidential election by Tassos Papadopoulos. He is best remembered for his long term efforts to unite the island and for his help making Cyprus part of the European Union. He was the oldest living former President of the Republic of Cyprus.
4th President of Cyprus. A member of the Democratic Rally Party, he served as president from February 28, 1993 to February 28, 2003. Prior to becoming president, he was a prisoner of war until the end of the World War II after his British Royal Air Force airplane was shot down over Germany. In 1948 he earned a degree in law at King's College in London and became a lawyer in Cyprus. He became heavily involved in Cypriot independence from the British. He participated in the 1959 London Conference and was then made minister of justice during the transition phase to independence. In 1960 he was elected to the House of Representatives. From 1961 to 1963 he held the position of President of the Cyprus Red Cross. After Turkey invaded Cyprus, which effectively divided the island, he was negotiator for the Greek Cypriot side in talks with the Turkish Cypriots. He was a candidate for the presidency of Cyprus six times and elected to two five-year terms, in 1993 and in 1998. In 1998 his main opponent was Georgios Iakovou. He was defeated in the 2003 presidential election by Tassos Papadopoulos. He is best remembered for his long term efforts to unite the island and for his help making Cyprus part of the European Union. He was the oldest living former President of the Republic of Cyprus.
Bio by: letemrip
Advertisement
See more Clerides memorials in:
Advertisement
