Christofias, Demetris

Christofias, Demetris dĕmēˈtrēs krĭstôfˈēäs [key], 1946–2019, Cypriot political leader, president of Cyprus (2008–13). A member of the AKEL (Communist) party, he served as chairman of its youth organization (1977–87) and as secretary-general of the party (1988–2009). He was a member of the House of Representatives (1991–2007) and was president of that body from 2001 to 2007. Elected president of Cyprus in 2008 after a runoff, he revived unification talks with Turkish Cypriots but slow progress and subsequent nationalist victories (2009–10) in N Cyprus ended hopes of a resolution.

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