Cyprus bid farewell to the founder and honorary President of the Social Democrats Movement (EDEK) and a veteran politician, Vasos Lyssarides who passed away on April 26 aged 100.

The deceased has been one of the central political figures since the independence of Cyprus in 1960. He was elected in the first parliament of the Republic and remained an MP until 2006, while he was elected and served as president of the House of Representatives from 1985 to 1991.

Delivering an eulogy during Vasos Lyssarides’ funeral service, the President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades praised the deceased’s emblematic personality and stressed that Lyssarides’ “guidance and legacy will remain a primary duty for those who survive him but also the highest honour and obligation towards one of the protagonists of Cyprus’ modern history”.

“The chapter of Vasos Lyssarides does not close today and will not close as Cyprus continue to bleed from the wound of occupation”, he said noting that “his body may be buried today but not his spirit and his free soul.”

On his part, Marinos Sizopoulos, President of EDEK said Cyprus bid farewell “to the last of a generation of great politicians that left his mark in the history of our country.”

Sizopoulos recalled the assassination attempt against Lyssarides in August 30 1974 during which he was wounded while his associate Doros Loizou lost his life.

He added that his remark that “’ideas cannot be assassinated’ remains a timeless legacy for future comrades.”

The funeral service in the midst of social distance measures, was attended by leaders and representatives of the political parties, the Greek Deputy Foreign Minister for Diaspora Greeks, Konstantinos Vlasis, representing the Greek Prime Minister, leaders and representatives of Greek parties, as well as diplomats.