21 Facts About Glafcos Clerides

Glafcos Ioannou Clerides was a Cypriot statesman, who served as President of Cyprus in 1974 and from 1993 to 2003.

Glafcos Clerides then served as the first Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1960 to 1976, and briefly took over the presidency of Cyprus on an interim basis following the failure of the 1974 coup, overseeing the island's defence amidst the Turkish invasion.

Glafcos Clerides founded the center-right Democratic Rally in 1976 and won the presidential election as its candidate in 1993, before securing a second term in 1998.

Glafcos Clerides failed to win a third term in 2003.

Glafcos Clerides was the eldest son of the lawyer and statesman Ioannis Clerides and Elli Argyridou.

Glafcos Clerides had one sister, Chrysanthi, and one brother, Ksanthos.

Glafcos Clerides married Lila Erulkar, the Indian Jewish daughter of Abraham Erulkar, personal physician to Mahatma Gandhi, in London in 1947.

Glafcos Clerides remained a prisoner of war until the end of the conflict.

Glafcos Clerides's name was mentioned in dispatches for distinguished services.

Glafcos Clerides was called to the bar through Gray's Inn in 1949, and went on to practice law in Cyprus.

Glafcos Clerides participated in the 1959 London Conference on Cyprus and during the transitional period from colonial administration to independence, he served as Minister of Justice.

Glafcos Clerides exercised these duties until 7 December 1974, the day of the return of Makarios, who was forced to flee on 16 July 1974 on account of the coup.

Glafcos Clerides was a candidate for the presidency of Cyprus five times between 1983 and 2003 and elected to two five-year terms, in 1993 and in 1998.

Glafcos Clerides was the author of an autobiographical over-toned depiction of 20th century Cypriot history, My Deposition, in four volumes.

Glafcos Clerides was elected president of the Republic of Cyprus in 1993 and was re-elected in 1998.

Glafcos Clerides's government played a crucial role in Cyprus' accession to the European Union, with negotiations starting in 1998 and successfully concluding in 2002.

Glafcos Clerides' presidency was marked by efforts to strengthen the defensive capabilities of the Cypriot National Guard.

Under heavy international pressure, Glafcos Clerides decided to transfer the S-300s to the Hellenic Air Force in exchange for alternative weapons from Greece.

Glafcos Clerides was defeated in the 2003 presidential election by Tassos Papadopoulos, after a campaign with heavy emphasis on the Annan Plan.

From 1959 to 1960 Glafcos Clerides held the position of President of the Cyprus Red Cross.

Glafcos Clerides was named an Honorary Member of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation.