Vasoos Lyssarides : Noble friend of Syria
Born in Cyprus, Lefkara in 1920, he was the personal physician of Archbishop Makarious III and one of his most trusted friends. A socialist by nature he fought on behalf of the oppressed people of the world. He was a champion of human rights in the Middle East.
In 1969 he established EDEK the socialist party of Cyprus and led it for many years. He was also House President from 1985 to 1991.
Dr. Lyssarides survived an assassination attempt on his life in August 1974 when the country was being wrenched apart by the coup led by the Greek junta which in turn resulted in the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and the occupation of around a third of it. Dr. Lyssarides’s patriotic stands during the crisis in Cyprus and afterwards earned him the respect of not only the majority of Cypriots but many peoples of the third world.
He was a champion of the Palestinian cause and spoke vehemently against Israeli crimes. Crimes that never end. He also spoke ardently about the Golan and the Syrians inalienable right to all of it.
For Dr. Lyssarides occupation was abhorrent no matter who the occupier was – whether it be Turkey (that occupied the North of Cyprus and previously Alexandretta in Syria) or Israel that occupied Palestine and then occupied parts of Lebanon, Syria and Egypt. Pro liberation and anti-colonialist to the bone he forged strong connections between himself and Nelson Mandela, Fidel Castro, Yasser Arafat and Tito.
Lyssarides served as vice president of the Afro-Asian Solidarity Organization, a non-governmental group – an organization that struggles against colonialism, apartheid and armed conflict.
Lyssarides died on Monday 26th of April, and on that occasion President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades said that Cyprus lost “one of its historic leaders who helped shape its identity”.
As for Syria, Palestine and all the countries still fighting neocolonialism Lyssarides will remain a symbol of humanity, freedom and honour.
Editor- In- Chief
Reem Haddad