By Jean Christou
CYPRUS yesterday declared three days of national mourning to mark the tragic death on Tuesday night of Greece’s Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis.
Flags flew at half mast all over the island yesterday as Greek Cypriots came to terms with the shock of losing one of their most prominent political exports.
Tributes poured in from politicians, political parties, municipalities, unions and other organisations on the island. The Cyprus University announced it would close on the day of the funeral and would name one of its buildings after Kranidiotis; it declared a minute’s silence before every lecture.
A book of condolences was opened at the Greek embassy in Nicosia and will remain open until the funeral.
Speaking from London, President Glafcos Clerides said the death of Kranidiotis, 51, was a “national tragedy” at a crucial time for Cyprus.
His death left a void because he knew the Cyprus question well and as a Cypriot took a special interest in the island’s political problem.
Kranidiotis has been at the forefront of efforts in Europe to resolve the Cyprus problem and to assist the island in its course towards European Union membership.
Clerides described Kranidiotis as a “good friend and an excellent diplomat” and said he wished to extend his condolences to his family.
He said he could not believe he had only seen Kranidiotis earlier on Tuesday afternoon when he met in Athens with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis; the president spoke of the “wealth of experience” he brought to all meetings.
Kranidiotis’ only son Nicolas, 23, and four others also died when the plane they were travelling in plunged thousands of feet in an air pocket on its way to Bucharest late on Tuesday night. Seven others, mostly journalists who were accompanying Kranidiotis on the official trip, were injured.
It was Edek leader Vassos Lyssarides who broke the news to Kranidiotis’ ageing mother Chrysso at the family home in Nicosia at 3am yesterday. She flew to Greece early yesterday.
“I’ve known him since he was born,” Lyssarides said. “He was like my own child.”
He said the feeling of loss was so huge there was no consolation. “And when it’s someone you’ve lived with it’s even harder.”
Lyssarides said telling Kranidiotis’ mother of the death of her son and grandson was “one of the most tragic and difficult duties I ever carried out”.
The Edek leader was the first to sign the book of condolences at the Greek embassy. “I never thought I would come here to sign the book of condolences for the death of Yiannos Kranidiotis, not even in my most tragic dreams… but unfortunately we have to live with reality, Yiannos has left,” he said.
People from all walks of life crowded to the embassy yesterday to sign the book. Most were clad in black.
One of the first foreign diplomats to sign the book was Russian ambassador Georgi Muratov, who described Kranidiotis as a “prominent diplomat and significant personality”.
House President and Acting President of the Republic Spyros Kyprianou was also there and said Kranidiotis was a “true patriot who died young but could have given so much”.
Earlier in the day, Kyprianou said Kranidiotis’ death was a new tragedy for Greece and Cyprus. “He was a man with a very bright future,” he said. “What has happened is unbelievable. Tragedy continues to afflict Hellenism.”
Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides also spoke of Kranidiotis early yesterday, saying he had contributed greatly to Cyprus’ EU accession course. “It’s shocking. It is a great loss for Cyprus, for Greece and the nation,” said Cassoulides. “He was a valuable and close adviser and we had almost daily telephone conversations with him.”
Government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou expressed similar sentiments and called Kranidiotis a “warrior at the forefront of the battle” on the Cyprus question.
