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Spyros KyprianouPresident of Cyprus from 3 September 1977 to 28 February 1988.
Date of Birth: 28.10.1932
Country:  Cyprus |
Content:
Early Life and Career
Spyros Kyprianou was born in Limassol, Cyprus, in 1932. He received his education in London, where he studied law.
Before Cyprus gained independence, Kyprianou served as a representative of the Cypriot Orthodox Church in London and New York. He also served as secretary to Archbishop Makarios, the future president of Cyprus.
Government Service
After Cyprus gained independence in 1960, Kyprianou served as Minister of Justice. He also became Foreign Minister, a role in which he chaired the Committee of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Council of Europe from April to December 1967. In 1964, he negotiated a military assistance agreement with the USSR.
Kyprianou resigned from his ministerial posts in 1972 and returned to private legal practice. In 1974, he led a delegation in negotiations with the new democratic government of Greece following the overthrow of the military junta.
Political Career
In 1976, Kyprianou founded the Democratic Party of Cyprus. The party won 21 seats in the 1976 parliamentary elections, making Kyprianou Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Presidency
After the death of President Makarios in 1977, Kyprianou assumed the duties of president in accordance with the constitution. He was elected to complete Makarios's term in office on September 3, 1977.
Kyprianou was re-elected unopposed in 1978 and again in 1983 in the first round of voting. In 1988, he lost in the first round of the presidential election, which was ultimately won by George Vassiliou.
Later Life
Kyprianou returned to the House of Representatives in 1996, serving as Speaker until his retirement in 2000. He passed away from cancer shortly after stepping down.
Kyprianou's successor as leader of the Democratic Party was Tassos Papadopoulos.
