FORMER Foreign Minister and businessman Alecos Michaelides died on Sunday at Paphos General Hospital. He was 74 and had suffered chronic health problems in recent years.
Born in Paphos, Michaelides made a notable contributions to his hometown’s tourism industry opening its first four-star hotel.
As Chairman of Thanos Hotel Group, Michaelides also built the Anassa, a luxury hotel modelled to resemble a Byzantine village.
The venture was not without controversy over planning permission however, which finally saw Michaelides resign his Cabinet post in the wake of months of negative publicity about the alleged relaxation of planning laws for the hotel.
A spokesperson on behalf of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation noted Michaelides’ death and acknowledged him as a “pioneer and visionary”, who was a key player in “reactivating the tourism industry after 1974”.
According to Zacharias Ioannides, Director-General of the Cyprus Hoteliers’ Association, Michaelides’ contribution to the hotel industry was “groundbreaking”, while he described the Anassa as a standard-setting, “showpiece for the hotel industry not just of Cyprus, but of the world”.
Ioannides went on to say that Michaelides, who gained a BA in Economics and Business and an MA in Business from the Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States, “applied himself with sensitivity and understanding to the needs of the Cyprus economy and of the tourism industry”.
In his political career, Michaelides served as House Speaker from 1977 until 1981 and as Minister for Foreign Affairs between 1993 and 1997.
President Tassos Papadopoulos paid tribute to Michaelides, saying: “Throughout his life he was devoted to serving the interests of Cyprus and his passing away is a great loss suffered by Cypriot Hellenism.”
In a statement, the current House Speaker, Demetris Christofias, hailed Michaelides’ courage in acting as Speaker of the House of Representatives, “in the tremendously fiendish circumstances which manifested following the invasion”.
Presidential candidate Ioannis Kasoulides offered his condolences to the family of the deceased and emphasised Michaelides’ pivotal role in achieving the commencement of negotiations for the entry of Cyprus into the European Union.
DISY boss Nicos Anastassiades relayed his deepest sorrow at the passing away of, “a former Vice-Chairman of the Party and of a select friend and colleague.”
Anastassiades said that Michaelides’ political career was characterised by his, “consensus -based approach and modesty.”
A book of condolences has been opened at the House of Representatives, while the funeral service will be held today at 3pm at Pallouriotissa Church in Nicosia. Costs will be paid for by the House of Representatives.
The family has requested that donations should be made to the ‘Make A Wish Foundation’ in place of wreaths.
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