Giorgos Vassiliou

Giorgos Vassiliou

President of Cyprus from 28 February 1988 to 28 February 1993
Date of Birth: 20.05.1931
Country: Cyprus

Content:
  1. Early Life and Education
  2. Political Career
  3. Post-Presidency
  4. European Diplomacy

Early Life and Education

George Vasiliou was born into a politically active family in Famagusta, Cyprus. His father was a physician and a member of the Communist Party of Cyprus, who fought in the Greek Civil War. Following the war, the family relocated to Budapest, Hungary, where Vasiliou studied at the University of Budapest under Imre Nagy.

Political Career

Presidency of Cyprus (1988-1993)

In 1988, Vasiliou ran as an independent candidate and won the presidential election against incumbent Spyros Kyprianou. During his presidency, he played a significant role in initiating negotiations with the European Union for Cyprus' accession.

Post-Presidency

After losing the 1993 election to Glafcos Clerides, Vasiliou founded the Free Democratic Movement party. In 1996, he became chairman of the United Democrats party. He served in the Parliament until 2001 but resigned as party leader in 2004 after the United Nations Annan Plan for the reunification of Cyprus was rejected in a referendum.

European Diplomacy

From 1998 to 2003, Vasiliou led negotiations with the European Union, resulting in Cyprus' accession to the bloc in 2004. He continues to be an active member of the European Council on Tolerance and Mutual Respect.

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