Glafcos Clerides

Glafcos Clerides
source
Name	Glafcos Clerides
Caption	Clerides in 2003
Office	4th President of Cyprus
Term start	28 February 1993
Term end	28 February 2003
Predecessor	Georgios Vassiliou
Successor	Tassos Papadopoulos
Office2	President of the House of Representatives
Term start2	22 July 1976
Term end2	20 September 1976
Predecessor2	Tassos Papadopoulos
Successor2	Alecos Michaelides
Birth date	24 April 1919
Birth place	Nicosia, British Cyprus
Death date	15 November 2013
Death place	Nicosia, Cyprus
Party	Democratic Rally (1976–2013)
Otherparty	Eniaion (1969–1976)
Spouse	Lila Irene
Alma mater	King's College London
Occupation	Lawyer, Politician

Glafcos Clerides was a towering Cypriot statesman and lawyer who served as the fourth President of Cyprus from 1993 to 2003. A key figure in the island's modern history, his career spanned the tumultuous period from the Cyprus Emergency through the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and decades of complex peace negotiations. He was the founder and longtime leader of the center-right Democratic Rally party, steering the Republic of Cyprus toward European Union accession.

Early life and education

Born in Nicosia to Ioannis Clerides, a prominent barrister and future Attorney General of Cyprus, he was raised in a politically active family. He completed his secondary education at the Pancyprian Gymnasium before traveling to the United Kingdom to study law at King's College London. His studies were interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War, a period that would profoundly shape his early adulthood and sense of duty.

Military and legal career

During the Second World War, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force and served as a pilot officer. His Halifax bomber was shot down over Germany in 1942, leading to his capture and imprisonment in the notorious Stalag Luft III prisoner-of-war camp. After the war, he completed his legal studies, was called to the bar at Gray's Inn, and returned to Cyprus to establish a successful legal practice. He notably served as a defense lawyer for many EOKA fighters during the Cyprus Emergency.

Political career

His political ascent began in 1960 when he was appointed the first President of the House of Representatives following independence from Britain. He played a critical role during the 1963–64 intercommunal violence and the 1974 Cypriot coup d'état. Following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, he served as the chief Greek Cypriot negotiator in the intercommunal talks under United Nations auspices. In 1976, he founded the Democratic Rally, becoming its president and the main opposition leader to Spyros Kyprianou and later Georgios Vassiliou.

Presidency

Elected in 1993, his decade-long presidency was defined by a pragmatic, pro-Western foreign policy and the pursuit of a bizonal, bicommunal federation to reunify the island. He cultivated strong ties with the United States, United Kingdom, and Greece, while also championing the country's bid to join the European Union. His administration saw significant economic modernization and infrastructure projects. A pivotal moment was the 2002 presentation of the Annan Plan for Cyprus by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, which Clerides supported but was ultimately rejected in a 2004 referendum after he left office.

Later life and death

After leaving the Presidential Palace in 2003, he remained an influential elder statesman within the Democratic Rally and continued to comment on national affairs. He published his memoirs, providing a firsthand account of key events in Cypriot history. He died at his home in Nicosia in November 2013, at the age of 94, and was accorded a state funeral attended by dignitaries including President Nicos Anastasiades and former President Demetris Christofias.

Legacy

He is widely remembered as a foundational figure of post-independence Cyprus, a skilled negotiator, and a steadfast advocate for the island's European orientation. His leadership was instrumental in securing the Republic of Cyprus's accession to the European Union. While his support for the Annan Plan remains debated, his commitment to a diplomatic resolution of the Cyprus dispute left a lasting imprint on the nation's political landscape. The Larnaca International Airport was renamed in his honor.

Category:Presidents of Cyprus Category:1919 births Category:2013 deaths