On Saturday morning, a big crowd gathered at the Holy Church of God’s Wisdom in Strovolos. Citizens, politicians, state officials, diplomats, friends, and colleagues came together to say goodbye to former President of Cyprus, George Vasiliou, and support his family.
Many speakers praised George Vasiliou’s lasting contributions and political legacy. The Israeli Ambassador, Oren Anolik, described him as a man of tolerance, commitment, and reunification.
AKEL MP Aristos Damianou highlighted his key role in Cyprus’s journey to Europe. He noted Vasiliou’s efforts to democratize the state and strengthen institutions. He always aimed for a solution to the Cyprus issue and the reunification of the land.
Sotiroula Charalambous, General Secretary of PEO, mentioned that his five-year term included major social reforms. These reforms included lowering the retirement age and modernizing family law. She emphasized that his life was dedicated to resolving the Cyprus issue.
The Mayor of Lysis, Andreas Kauris, talked about Vasiliou’s multilingual skills and international presence. He recalled Vasiliou’s first appearance as a presidential candidate in front of foreign journalists.
Niyazi Kizilyurek pointed out that George Vasiliou worked hard to solve the Cyprus issue and earned respect from Turkish Cypriots. He also highlighted the founding of the University of Cyprus as one of Vasiliou’s greatest achievements.
Former Minister Vasiliki Anastasiadou shared how involved he was in every step of Cyprus’s EU accession process. Dimitris Iliadis said goodbye by stating he “made history.” Pieros Karoulas and Chris Sofroniou spoke about his values, democratic views, and belief in young people.
