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Former President of the Republic of Cyprus George Vassiliou passed away on Tuesday evening at the age of 94, marking the end of a long life devoted to public service and political reform.
His death was announced by his wife, Androulla Vassiliou, in a social media post, in which she said that after two years of illness, he died peacefully at Nicosia General Hospital, surrounded by his family. She described him as her life partner of 59 years and paid tribute to his kindness, integrity, and deep love for Cyprus and its people.
Born in Famagusta on May 20, 1931, Vassiliou came from a family strongly engaged in public life. His father, Vassos Vassiliou, was a physician and prominent left-wing figure, while his mother, Fofos Vassiliou, was a dentist. He pursued higher education in economics in Geneva, Vienna, and Budapest, earning a doctorate in economics from the University of Budapest, and later specialized in marketing and market research in London.
Before entering politics, Vassiliou built an international professional career. He worked in the United Kingdom for the Reed Paper Group as an economist and market researcher, before returning to Cyprus in 1962 to establish the Middle East Research Centre (MERC). He led the organization for more than two decades, contributing significantly to economic research and management education in the region. He also helped found institutions focused on management and computer studies, collaborating with major British academic bodies.
Alongside his professional work, Vassiliou maintained a strong academic and public presence. He taught at the Cranfield School of Management in the UK, spoke regularly at international conferences, authored the first major book on marketing in the Middle East, and published widely in academic journals. In Cyprus, he was well known for presenting economic programs on radio and television through the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation.
Vassiliou was deeply involved in civic and economic institutions, serving in leadership and advisory roles across chambers of commerce, the Bank of Cyprus, the Church of Cyprus, and national economic and educational councils.
He entered frontline politics in 1988, running as an independent candidate in the presidential elections with the backing of AKEL and other political and civic figures. After winning the presidency, he focused much of his term on efforts to achieve a negotiated and just settlement to the Cyprus problem.
Although he was not re-elected, Vassiliou remained politically active. In the early 1990s, he founded the Movement of Free Democrats, later serving as an MP for Nicosia and eventually becoming honorary president of the United Democrats following party mergers.
One of his most enduring contributions came in the field of European integration. Cyprus’s application to join the European Union was submitted during his presidency. Later, under President Glafkos Clerides, Vassiliou was appointed chief negotiator for EU accession, overseeing the complex process of aligning Cyprus with EU law. That effort culminated successfully and played a decisive role in shaping the country’s modern trajectory.
In recognition of his service, he was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Cyprus in 2002, the nation’s highest honor. He also received honorary doctorates from leading universities in Greece, Hungary, and Serbia, as well as numerous international decorations from European and Middle Eastern states.
George Vassiliou is remembered as a reform-minded leader, a committed European, and a public figure whose influence extended well beyond his time in office.
