Dimitris Christofias, Cyprus’ first communist president, died Friday, local time. He was 72.
Dimitris Christofias had visited Australia at least three times.
The first when he was newly elected General Secretary of his party (AKEL). The second in the early 200’s as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The third as President of the Republic of Cyprus at the invitation of the then Governor General, Quentin Bryce. In all occasions he had given interviews to the Greek program of SBS Radio.
Current Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades confirmed his predecessor’s death in a written message, expressing “deep sorrow.” Anastasiades said he and Christofias may have been on divergent political paths, but he did what he thought was best for his country. Conveying his condolences to the Christofias’ family, Anastasiades said his predecessor had been in frail health for many years.
Christofias, who was president from 2008-2013, had been in a critical condition since being admitted to Nicosia General hospital in May. Israeli doctors had assisted Cypriot colleagues in treating the former president. Christofias’ personal doctor Michael Minas told state-run Cyprus News Agency the former president died at 5:36 p.m. local time (1436 GMT; 10:36 a.m. EDT).
His tenure as president was marked by near financial ruin that necessitated an international rescue, uproar over a deadly Iranian munitions blast and failure, despite his persistent efforts, to find a solution to the Cyprus problem.
