Greek Cypriots bid farewell on Monday to their former president Tassos Papadopoulos, who died of lung cancer on Dec.12 at the age of 74.
Flags flew at half mast for the late former president. President Demetris Christofias signed a book of condolences, along with Prime Minister Constantinos Karamanlis, foreign diplomats and ordinary Cypriots.
"With deep mourning, we bid farewell to former President of the Republic of Cyprus Tassos Papadopoulos and we honour his contribution towards his country, Cyprus, from the posts of member of the House of Representatives, House President, Minister, interlocutor (in the talks for a solution to the problem of Cyprus) and President of the Republic," Christofias wrote.
Karamanlis wrote that "Tassos Papadopoulos has been a prominent figure of the Greeks of Cyprus, whom he served with passion and devotion. Our cooperation was excellent with the single aim of finding a just, comprehensive and agreed solution to the Cyprus problem."
A funeral was later held at a Greek Orthodox church before the ex-president was laid to rest at a cemetery outside Nicosia. Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyiannis was also present at the funeral.
Cyprus Archbishop Chrysostomos II, who openly supported a second term bid by Papadopoulos earlier this year, presided over the service.
He described Papadopoulos' passing away as "incalculable." With a continuous contribution to his homeland, the Archbishop said, Papadopoulos was the spiritual archetype for many people.
Chrysostomos said the referendum on a United Nations-brokered plan in April 2004 was the culmination of Papadopoulos' political career as "he saved the Republic of Cyprus from dissolution and us from seeking a new homeland outside Cyprus."
Widely viewed as a nationalist hardliner, Papadopoulos persuaded Greek Cypriots to reject the UN plan for a solution to the Cyprus problem, arguing that the plan would lead to no real reunification of the Mediterranean island, but to a permanent division.
Papadopoulos, a longtime chain smoker, was admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital on November 22. He was suffering from lower back pain and acute respiratory failure, and was later diagnosed with small cell lung cancer.
Papadopoulos was born in Nicosia in January 1934. He studied law in London and later came back to Cyprus to join the struggle for independence against British colonial rule in the 1950s.
He became a cabinet minister following Cyprus' independence and was elected president of the republic in February 2003 for a five-year term, during which Cyprus became a full member of the European Union and joined the eurozone.
Papadopoulos failed in his bid for a second term and was replaced last February by Demetris Christofias, who is more flexible on the Cyprus problem. Comprehensive reunification talks with the Turkish Cypriot leadership have been re-launched under the new presidency.
Papadopoulos is survived by his wife and four children.
Source:Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article