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Former President of Cyprus, Giorgos Vassiliou, Passes Away

Published January 14, 2026, 04:00
Former President of Cyprus, Giorgos Vassiliou, Passes Away

Former President of the Republic of Cyprus, Giorgos Vassiliou, passed away last night at the age of 94, after a two-year struggle with illness. The news was announced by his wife, Androulla Vassiliou, who expressed her deep sorrow over the loss of her beloved partner. Giorgos Vassiliou served as the 3rd President of Cyprus from 1988 to 1993, succeeding Archbishop Makarios and Spyros Kyprianou. During his presidency, Vassiliou focused on finding a just solution to the Cyprus problem and promoting economic development. Under his leadership, Cyprus applied for membership in the European Union, an effort that later proved successful, with him leading the Negotiating Delegation for accession. Vassiliou was born in Famagusta in 1931 and studied economics at various European universities. Before his political career, he worked as an economist, vice-president of the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation (KEVE), lecturer and university professor, as well as a collaborator of the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation. He was also an author, with the first book on Marketing in the Middle East bearing his signature. For his contribution to Cyprus's accession to the EU, Giorgos Vassiliou was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Cyprus in 2002, the country's highest distinction. The loss of Giorgos Vassiliou leaves a void in the political and intellectual life of Cyprus, while his memory will remain alive in the hearts of Cypriots.