President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso in a   message of condolences expresses his great sadness for the passing away of Glafcos Clerides.

He notes that “he will be remembered as a true European statesman and the man who worked tirelessly over many decades for the reunification of Cyprus and for the full integration of Cyprus into the European family”.

“Glafcos Clerides served his country with distinction from many positions – as a prominent parliamentarian, as the chief Greek Cypriot negotiator in the intercommunal talks and, of course, as President of the Republic, an office he held for two consecutive terms between 1993 and 2003. As President, he led the negotiations for the accession of Cyprus to the European Union with great commitment and finesse and he fully deserves the credit he has received for their successful conclusion”, he adds.

President Clerides was also a man of great personal courtesy and wisdom, he says.

On behalf of the European Commission, allow me to express my sincere condolences to his family and the Cypriot people for their loss, Barroso concludes in his message