Makarios dead; Cyprus mourns

Press, 4 August 1977, Page 1

Makarios dead; Cyprus mourns

NZPA-Reuter Nicosia Archbishop Makarios, President of Cyprus and leader of its Greek Orthodox Church, who inspired the island’s independence moventent, died yesterday after a heart attack. He was 63. Cyprus Radio announced that the President died at 3.15 p.m. New Zealand time after a myocardial infarction about seven hours earlier. Archbishop Makarios suffered a mild heart attack last April but returned to public life within three weeks. He was to have visited New Zealand in November after having accepted an invitation from the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) at the Commonwealth heads of government conference in June. Mr Muldoon said that all New Zealanders would join in mourning a great patriot. Archbishop Makarios had devoted his life to the service of his people. “His path was not an easy one but he showed indomitable spirit and his determination was, in the end. rewarded,” said Mr Muldoon. The Prime Minister of

Greece (Mr Constantine Karamanlis) sent a heart specialist to attend Archbishop Makarios when he became seriously ill. He did the same during his earlier attack. The Cabinet and the National Council, which includes all party leaders, went into emergency session less than an hour after the President’s death. Under the constitution, the President (Speaker) of the House of Representatives (Mr Spyros Kyprtanou) will act as President until elections to choose a successor. The Cabinet decreed 40 days of mourning and ordered all flags to be flown at half-mast. The body of Archbishop Makarios will be taken to the St John Cathedral in the grounds of the Archbishopric, where it will lie in state. OBITUARY, PAGE 8.