Greek President pays tribute to Papadopoulos

The Greek leadership yesterday paid tribute to the former President beginning with a minute’s silence at the Greek parliament.

In his message of condolences, Greek President Karolos Papoulias said he shared the deep sorrow of the people and the government of Cyprus.

“Tassos Papadopoulos has served faithfully the Republic of Cyprus, he fought with a passion and consistency for the future of Cypriot Hellenism and for his beliefs, always acting within the law which he defended at difficult times,” Papoulias said in his message.

Cyprus, he said, found the place it deserved during Papadopoulos’ term in office, as a member of the European Union.

“Unfortunately he did not live to see a just, viable and functional solution of the Cyprus problem, for which we are all fighting,” he added.

Speaking of Papadopoulos in a personal he said: “I bow to the memory of my dear friend.”

Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis described Papadopoulos as “an historic figure of Cypriot Hellenism” to which he had dedicated his entire life.

“I have had a close cooperation with Papadopoulos in the recent past, during his presidency, at a crucial time for Cyprus and the Cyprus problem. As President of the Republic of Cyprus he fought with tenacity, patriotism, persistence a difficult battle for the future of his country,” Karamanlis added.

he said Hellenism “owed a lot to Papadopoulos.”

Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyiannis described Papadopoulos as “an historic personality who has undoubtedly contributed generously and with consistency to the long struggle of Cypriot Hellenism.”

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The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.