Metropolitan Hellenism honors Glafcos Clerides, a
distinguished political man, who associated his name firmly with the modern
history of Cyprus, said today the Prime Minister of Greece Mr. Antonis Samaras,
who arrived in Cyprus in the morning to attend the funeral of the former
President of the Republic of Cyprus.
Immediately after his arrival in Cyprus, Mr. Samaras,
together with the President of the Parliament of Greece Mr. Evangelos
Meimarakis, the Vice President of the Greek Government and Minister of Foreign
Affairs Mr. Evangelos Venizelos, the Minister of National Defence Mr. Demetris
Avramopoulos and the Government Spokesman Mr. Simos Kedicoglou, went to the
Presidential Palace, where they were received by the President of the Republic
Mr. Nicos Anastasiades.
After the meeting that lasted for about half an hour,
the Prime Minister of Greece signed the Book of Condolence for Glafcos
Clerides.
In his inscribed message, Mr. Samaras wrote the
following: “The most sincere condolences of Metropolitan Hellenism for the
great political man of our Cyprus.”
The President of the Republic and the Prime Minister
of Greece then made statements to the press.
In welcoming the Prime Minister of Greece, the
President of the Republic expressed “the profound thanks of his family (of the
departed Glafcos Clerides), of the political community, but also of all the
people of Cyprus for your presence here today.
A presence that demonstrates, in practice, the honor
you grant to a great political man of Cyprus, but also, at the same time, your
support to the Cypriot Hellenism that is going through hard times.
If there is one thing Glafcos Clerides has taught us,
is that what is required for the achievement of a goal is vision and realism,
so that we will never allow the visions to turn into nightmares.
With his presence, throughout his entire biological
and political life, if there is one thing that he has taught us is temperance,
moderation, dependability and love for the motherland. Once again, my warm
thanks for your presence here today.”
In his statement, Mr. Samaras said that “ I came today
as the Prime Minister of Greece together with the Vice President of the
Government, the President of the Parliament of Greece and the Minister of
National Defense, in order to attend the funeral of Glafcos Clerides not simply
or just to express my personal sorrow, but also to deliver the special honor on
the part of Metropolitan Hellenism to a distinguished political man, who linked
his name firmly with the modern history of this tormented great island.
I got to know him as a man to be simple, affable,
tolerant, forgiving, and with the integrity of life’s distinguished
personalities.
As a politician, Clerides had the courage to face
problems with daring and to create prospects. He had the gift of perspicacity
and the virtue of realism; and all these were interwoven with his vigilant
vision for a truly free and happy Cyprus.
We all got to know him throughout his long march as a
man of prudence and a high sense of responsibility. And this prudence and high
sense of responsibility did not take anything away from his boldness and his
fighting spirit.
I just want to say that the essential legacy that
Glafcos Clerides leaves us with is a legacy of unity and collective
mobilization in the struggle to do justice to the cause of Cyprus. In other
words, the transubstantiation of this legacy into actual deed is the supreme
honor that he deserves. And granting this honor is the responsibility and the
obligation of all of us. A responsibility and an obligation that is associated
with the well-being of the people of Cyprus. Greece shares this responsibility
and participates in the fulfilment of this obligation. Because for Greece,
Cyprus was and remains always a responsibility and an obligation.”
The statements by the President of the Republic and
the Prime Minister of Greece were made in the presence of the wife of the
President of the Republic Mrs Andri Anastasiades, the daughter of Glafcos
Clerides Mrs Kate Clerides and her husband Mr. Costas Siammas.
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