The President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulidis made an announcement about the death of former Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

The announcement in detail:

“It was with feelings of sadness that I learned of the death of the former Prime Minister of Greece, Kostas Simitis. Kostas Simitis was a prominent, leading figure both as an anti-dictatorship fighter in Greece and during the post-colonial period.

As the Prime Minister of Greece together, and in full and loving cooperation, with the late President of the Republic of Cyprus Glaukos Clerides, they led Cyprus to its greatest achievement since 1960, in the decision for Cyprus to join the EU, in December 2002 in Copenhagen.

Costas Simitis, as Prime Minister of Greece during the Greek Presidency in the first half of 2003, signed in April 2003 in Athens the accession of ten new members to the Union, including Cyprus, together with the late President Tassos Papadopoulos.

His mild political discourse, far from populism, and his political action were based on a permanent philosophy of modernization and reforms.

At the same time, Kostas Simitis also excelled as a university professor in Greece and Germany.

For all this, he will rightfully have a special place in the History of modern Greece and Hellenism, as well as in the memory of Cypriot Hellenism.

On behalf of the Government, myself and the Cypriot people, I express my sincere condolences to the Greek people and the relatives of the deceased».