President Nikos Anastasiades has awarded the «Man of the Year» prize to former President of the Republic Glafkos Clerides, who died on November 15, last year aged 95. The award was received by his daughter Kaite.
Presenting the award, the President said “the prize is awarded to a man who has left an indelible mark on the history of Cyprus and honours his dedication and service to the universal values of freedom and democracy and his struggle against Nazism and the conquerors of his homeland.”
“Clerides was a leader known beyond the narrow borders of our country, he was a visionary of the world. For Cyprus and for us who honor him today, he was the politician father figure who consolidated democracy and political dialectical behavior and fostered national reconciliation,” he noted.
Furthermore he said that under the dramatic circumstances of the tragedy of 1974, following the Turkish invasion, he received chaos and discord and delivered a state and unity, despite insurmountable obstacles. Anastasiades praised Clerides for his achievement to see Cyprus joining the European Union, in its entirety in spite of the fact that the Republic’s northern part continues to remain under Turkish occupation. Clerides, he added, prepared the ground for the best possible resolution of Cyprus’ national problem.
“Understanding, dialogue and reconciliation”, he added “was Clerides’ top legacy and the cornerstone on which we will build our future.”
He pointed out that based on this legacy “we will achieve the solution of the Cyprus problem, we will grow and prosper for the good of all the people of Cyprus, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Latins.”
Anastasiades expressed his gratitude to Clerides for teaching him that in critical situations the love of a leader for his country is not served through big words, but through courage and determination to assuming political responsibilities towards the country, at any political cost.
Clerides served as President of the Republic of Cyprus for two consecutive terms between 1993 and 2003