Vassos Lyssarides

{{Short description|Cypriot politician (1920–2021)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Vassos Lyssarides | native_name = {{nobold|Βάσος Λυσσαρίδης}} | native_name_lang = el | image = | caption = Lyssarides in 2011 | birth_date = 13 May 1920 | birth_place = Pano Lefkara, British Cyprus | death_date = {{death date and age|2021|4|26|1920|5|13|df=yes}} | death_place = Nicosia, Cyprus | office = President of the House of Representatives | term_start = 30 December 1985 | term_end = 30 May 1991 | predecessor = Georgios Ladas | successor = Alexis Galanos | office2 = Member of the House of Representatives | constituency2 = Nicosia | term_start2 = 16 August 1960 | term_end2 = 31 May 2006 | predecessor2 = | successor2 = | office3 = President of EDEK | term_start3 = 6 February 1969 | term_end3 = 21 July 2001 | predecessor3 = ''None'' (party established) | successor3 = Yiannakis Omirou | office4 = Representative of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe | term_start4 = 21 April 1986 | term_end4 = 28 June 1991 | predecessor4 = | successor4 = | constituency4 = Cyprus | party = EDEK {{small|(since 1969)}} | other_party = PM {{small|(1959–1969)}} | spouse = {{unbulleted list|{{marriage|Barbara Cornwall|1963|2019|end=her death}}}} | children = | website = {{URL|http://www.lyssarides.com/}} | footnotes = }}

'''Vassos Lyssarides''' ({{langx|el|Βάσος Λυσσαρίδης}}; 13 May 1920 – 26 April 2021) was a Cypriot politician and physician who was a central figure in the politics of Cyprus after the island's independence.

==Biography== Lyssarides was born in 1920 in the village of Pano Lefkara.<ref>{{cite web |title=ΒΑΣΟΣ Λυσσαριδης |url=http://www.lyssaridesfoundation.com/viografika/#vasos-lyssarides|website=www.lyssaridesfoundation.com |publisher=Lyssarides Foundation |access-date=6 March 2019 |page=Greek}}</ref> He studied medicine at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and worked as a physician.<ref name="HofRVLyss">{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.cy/parliamentgr/003_02_biography/lyssarides.htm|website=House of Representatives|title=Βιογραφικό σημείωμα|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041212033221/http://www.parliament.cy/parliamentgr/003_02_biography/lyssarides.htm|archive-date=12 December 2004|language=el}}</ref> He was closely associated with Archbishop Makarios III, and was his personal physician for years.<ref>{{cite news | title=Έφυγε από την ζωή ο Βάσος Λυσσαρίδης | date= 26 April 2021| url=https://www.capital.gr/epikairotita/3541837/efuge-apo-tin-zoi-o-basos-lussaridis| work =Capital.gr}}</ref>

==Political career== During his studies, he served as president of the Pan-student Committee for the Cypriot Struggle. The committee organised mass events for the union of Cyprus with Greece. He was also president of the Student Union of Cypriots and secretary of the Coordinating Committee of Cypriot Associations.<ref name=HofRVLyss/> Subsequently, Vassos Lyssarides participated in the EOKA 1955–1959 struggle.<ref name=HofRVLyss/> Lyssarides persuaded Georgios Grivas to create within EOKA the "Organisation of Left Patriots", through which they could attract members of the Cypriot Left to the struggle.<ref>Andrew R. Novo, On All Fronts: EOKA and the Cyprus Insurgency, 1955–1959, σελ. 78–79, 2010</ref>

Lyssarides' active participation in the EOKA struggle and his collaboration with Grivas against the British led to his expulsion from AKEL, of which he was a member: in its decision to expel him, AKEL accused him of being "the leader of the factionalist spiral" and "an element who deservedly plays the role of an agent of Intelligence Services".<ref>Antonis Antoniou, Greek Left and the Cyprus Question in the 1950s, PhD Thesis, University of Thessaly, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of History, Archaeology, Social Anthropology, 2015, pp. 240–241</ref> Lyssarides himself later said "the [EOKA] organization, despite what is said, was not ideological in character. I participated with my ideology in full harmony, I never had a problem."<ref>Basos Lissarides, "The effects of the EOKA struggle on the liberation movements of other peoples", Fifty Years after the EOKA Liberation Struggle: a historical assessment (scientific-historical conference), Nicosia 2005, p. 57</ref> He was a member of the Greek Cypriot delegation to London in 1959, representing EOKA, where the independence of Cyprus was decided.<ref name="EDAKVLys">{{Cite web|url=https://edek.org.cy/2015/viografiko-epitimou-proedrou-edek-vasou-lissaridi/|website=EDAK|title=Βιογραφικό Επίτιμου Προέδρου ΕΔΕΚ – Βάσου Λυσσαρίδη|language=el|date=27 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726150423/https://edek.org.cy/2015/viografiko-epitimou-proedrou-edek-vasou-lissaridi/|archive-date=26 July 2019}}</ref> Along with Tassos Papadopoulos, he voted against the London and Zürich Agreements, "stressing that they legitimise Turkey's military-political presence and lead to deadlocks which will be exploited by Great Britain and Turkey."<ref name="EDAKVLys"/>

In November 1964, Lyssarides and Papadopoulos organised the visit of Andreas Papandreou (son of then-Greek Prime Minister Georgios Papandreou) to Cyprus. During the visit, a very close friendship developed between Papandreou and Archbishop Makarios. Later, after the imposition of the military junta in Greece, Lyssarides was instrumental in assisting Papandreou and his Panhellenic Liberation Movement (PAK) with arms, money and training.<ref>Τσίμας, Κώστας (2004). Σελίδες Ζωής: Αγώνες για την Ελευθερία και τη Δημοκρατία. Αθήνα: εκδόσεις Προσκήνιο, σελ. προλόγου. {{ISBN|978-960-8318-23-6}}.</ref>

During the junta period, he was closely associated with the Panhellenic Liberation Movement (P.A.K.) and Andreas Papandreou, whose loyal friend he remained until the end. According to the testimony of the leading member of the P.A.K. {{ill|Kostas Tsima|el|Κώστας Τσίμας}}, it was Vassos Lyssarides who "opened the doors" of the Arabs for the P.A.K., and through his mediation the Palestinians and Yasser Arafat helped the P.A.C. and Andreas Papandreou with money, weapons and training.<ref>Tsimas, Kostas (2004). Pages of Life: Struggles for Freedom and Democracy. Athens. {{ISBN|978-960-8318-23-6}}</ref> Previously, in 1964, Lyssarides together with Papadopoulos had organised Andreas Papandreou's visit to Cyprus, where the friendship and cooperation between Papandreou and Makarios was born.<ref>Kathimerini, 22 September 1983</ref>

In 1969, he founded EDEK, the first socialist political party in Cyprus. He was repeatedly elected president of the party until 2002. EDEK's appeal was "strongest among non-communist leftists, intellectuals, and white-collar workers."<ref name="countrystudies.us">[http://countrystudies.us/cyprus/64.htm Eric Solsten, ed. Cyprus: A Country Study. Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress]</ref> In July 2001, he stepped down as president of the party and became its honorary president in 2002.<ref>{{cite news | title=Κόμματα: Εκλογές άνευ ανθυποψηφίου| date= 29 April 2016| url=https://politis.com.cy/politis-news/kypros/kommata-ekloges-anef-anthipopsifiou/| work =Politis| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190709080830/https://politis.com.cy/politis-news/kypros/kommata-ekloges-anef-anthipopsifiou/| archive-date= 9 July 2019}}</ref><ref name=HofRVLyss/>

In 1974, he resisted the coup of 15 July 1974.<ref name=HofRVLyss/> On 30 August 1974, he was the target of an assassination attempt, during which the organisational secretary of the EDEK youth, Doros Loizou, was killed.<ref>{{cite news | title=40 χρόνια απο την απόπειρα δολοφονίας του Β.Λυσσαρίδη-ΒΙΝΤΕΟ| date= 30 August 2014|url=https://www.sigmalive.com/news/politics/156781/40-xronia-apo-tin-apopeira-dolofonias-tou-vlyssaridivinteo| work =Sigma Live| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190726144641/https://www.sigmalive.com/news/politics/156781/40-xronia-apo-tin-apopeira-dolofonias-tou-vlyssaridivinteo| archive-date= 26 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Βαρβάρα Δ. Λοΐζου: Προαισθάνθηκε το θάνατό του ο Δώρος| date= 1 September 2018| url=https://dialogos.com.cy/varvara-d-lo-zoy-proaisthanthike-to-thanato-toy-o-doros/| work =Dialogos| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190726145248/https://dialogos.com.cy/varvara-d-lo-zoy-proaisthanthike-to-thanato-toy-o-doros/| archive-date= 26 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Greek Cypriot civil war feared after ambush | date= 31 August 1974 | url =http://archive.timesonline.co.uk/tol/archive/ | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080903140039/http://archive.timesonline.co.uk/tol/archive/ | url-status =dead | archive-date =3 September 2008 | work =The Times | pages =1; Issue 59180; col B | access-date = 17 July 2008 }}</ref>

===Member and president of the House of Representatives=== Lyssarides was elected for the first time as a deputy in the first parliamentary elections of Cyprus, in the Nicosia Electoral District with the Patriotic Front for the first parliamentary term.<ref>{{cite book | last = Larkou | first = Larkos | title = ΔΕΚΑ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΚΕΣ ΦΥΣΙΟΓΝΩΜΙΕΣ ΤΗΣ ΚΥΠΡΟY ''(Ten Political figures of Cyprus)'' |date=January 2008 | url = http://www.larkoslarkou.org.cy/e-book_deka%20prosopa.shtml#7 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Εκλογές 31ης Ιουλίου 1960|url=http://www.parliament.cy/el/%CE%B2%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AD%CF%82-%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82/%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82-31%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%AF%CE%BF%CF%85-1960|website=House of Representatives|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726093107/http://www.parliament.cy/el/%CE%B2%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AD%CF%82-%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82/%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82-31%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%AF%CE%BF%CF%85-1960|archive-date=26 July 2019|access-date=26 April 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> He was re-elected as a deputy in the 1970,<ref>{{cite web|title=Εκλογές 5ης Ιουλίου 1970|url=http://www.parliament.cy/el/%CE%B2%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AD%CF%82-%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82/%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82-5%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%AF%CE%BF%CF%85-1970|website=House of Representatives|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725055108/http://www.parliament.cy/el/%CE%B2%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AD%CF%82-%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82/%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82-5%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%AF%CE%BF%CF%85-1970|archive-date=25 July 2019|access-date=26 April 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> 1976,<ref>{{cite web|title=Εκλογές 5ης Σεπτεμβρίου 1976|url=http://www.parliament.cy/el/%CE%B2%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AD%CF%82-%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82/%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82-5%CE%B7%CF%82-%CF%83%CE%B5%CF%80%CF%84%CE%B5%CE%BC%CE%B2%CF%81%CE%AF%CE%BF%CF%85-1976|website=House of Representatives|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715134520/http://www.parliament.cy/el/%CE%B2%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AD%CF%82-%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82/%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82-5%CE%B7%CF%82-%CF%83%CE%B5%CF%80%CF%84%CE%B5%CE%BC%CE%B2%CF%81%CE%AF%CE%BF%CF%85-1976|archive-date=15 July 2019|access-date=26 April 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> 1981<ref>{{cite web|title=Εκλογές 24ης Μαΐου 1981|url=http://www.parliament.cy/el/%CE%B2%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AD%CF%82-%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82/%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82-24%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%BC%CE%B1%CE%90%CE%BF%CF%85-1981|website=House of Representatives|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704222518/http://www.parliament.cy/el/%CE%B2%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AD%CF%82-%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82/%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82-24%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%BC%CE%B1%CE%90%CE%BF%CF%85-1981|archive-date=4 July 2019|access-date=26 April 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> and 1985 parliamentary elections.<ref>{{cite web|title=Εκλογές 8ης Δεκεμβρίου 1985|url=http://www.parliament.cy/el/%CE%B2%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AD%CF%82-%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82/%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82-8%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%B4%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%B5%CE%BC%CE%B2%CF%81%CE%AF%CE%BF%CF%85-1985|website=House of Representatives|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704222659/http://www.parliament.cy/el/%CE%B2%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AD%CF%82-%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82/%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82-8%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%B4%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%B5%CE%BC%CE%B2%CF%81%CE%AF%CE%BF%CF%85-1985|archive-date=4 July 2019|access-date=26 April 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> On 30 December 1985, he was elected President of the House of Representatives for the fifth parliamentary term.<ref>{{cite web|title=Οι Πρόεδροι της Βουλής των Αντιπροσώπων από το 1960 έως σήμερα|url=http://www.parliament.cy/el/general-information/%CE%BF%CE%B9-%CF%80%CF%81%CF%8C%CE%B5%CE%B4%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%B9-%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%B2%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%AE%CF%82-%CF%84%CF%89%CE%BD-%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%B9%CF%80%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%83%CF%8E%CF%80%CF%89%CE%BD-%CE%B1%CF%80%CF%8C-%CF%84%CE%BF-1960-%CE%AD%CF%89%CF%82-%CF%83%CE%AE%CE%BC%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%B1|website=House of Representatives|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190625201031/http://www.parliament.cy/el/general-information/%CE%BF%CE%B9-%CF%80%CF%81%CF%8C%CE%B5%CE%B4%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%B9-%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%B2%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%AE%CF%82-%CF%84%CF%89%CE%BD-%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%B9%CF%80%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%83%CF%8E%CF%80%CF%89%CE%BD-%CE%B1%CF%80%CF%8C-%CF%84%CE%BF-1960-%CE%AD%CF%89%CF%82-%CF%83%CE%AE%CE%BC%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%B1|archive-date=25 June 2019|access-date=26 April 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> His candidacy was supported by members of the EDEK and Democratic Party.<ref>{{cite news | title=Δεν δεσμεύεται η Βουλή για την εκλογή προέδρου από την απόφαση 1985| date= 30 May 2016| url=http://politis.com.cy/article/den-desmevete-i-vouli-gia-tin-eklogi-proedrou-apo-tin-apofasi-1985| work =Politis|first=Katia|last=Sabba| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170613050646/http://politis.com.cy/article/den-desmevete-i-vouli-gia-tin-eklogi-proedrou-apo-tin-apofasi-1985| archive-date= 13 June 2017}}</ref> Subsequently, he was re-elected to the position of MP in the 1991,<ref>{{cite web|title=Εκλογές 19ης Μαΐου 1991|url=http://www.parliament.cy/el/%CE%B2%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AD%CF%82-%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82/%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82-19%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%BC%CE%B1%CE%90%CE%BF%CF%85-1991|website=House of Representatives|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701201251/http://www.parliament.cy/el/%CE%B2%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AD%CF%82-%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82/%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82-19%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%BC%CE%B1%CE%90%CE%BF%CF%85-1991|archive-date=1 July 2019|access-date=26 April 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> 1996.,<ref>{{cite web|title=Εκλογές 26ης Μαΐου 1996|url=http://www.parliament.cy/el/%CE%B2%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AD%CF%82-%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82/%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82-26%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%BC%CE%B1%CE%90%CE%BF%CF%85-1996|website=House of Representatives|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701201421/http://www.parliament.cy/el/%CE%B2%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AD%CF%82-%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82/%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82-26%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%BC%CE%B1%CE%90%CE%BF%CF%85-1996|archive-date=1 July 2019|access-date=26 April 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> and 2001 parliamentary elections<ref>{{cite web|title=Εκλογές 27ης Μαΐου 2001|url=http://www.parliament.cy/el/%CE%B2%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AD%CF%82-%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82/%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82-27%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%BC%CE%B1%CE%90%CE%BF%CF%85-2001|website=House of Representatives|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701014336/http://www.parliament.cy/el/%CE%B2%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AD%CF%82-%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82/%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%82-27%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%BC%CE%B1%CE%90%CE%BF%CF%85-2001|archive-date=1 July 2019|access-date=26 April 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> In the 2006 election he decided not to run.<ref>{{Cite web|last=fm|date=28 February 2006|title=Cyprus poll puts communists and opposition in lead|url=https://www.financialmirror.com/2006/02/28/cyprus-poll-puts-communists-and-opposition-in-lead/|access-date=26 April 2021|website=Financial Mirror|language=en-GB}}</ref> As an MP, he served as a member of the Selection Committee and the ''ad hoc'' Parliamentary Committee on the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament.<ref name=HofRVLyss/>

===Presidential elections=== Lyssarides was a candidate in the 1983, 1988 and 1998 presidential elections, supported mainly by his party, each time receiving in the region of 10% of the vote.<ref>{{cite news | title=Ιστορία των Προεδρικών Εκλογών| date= 12 November 2012| url =https://www.sigmalive.com/ekloges2013/electionnews/18522/istoria-ton-proedrikon-eklogon| work =Sigma TV| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190726163555/https://www.sigmalive.com/ekloges2013/electionnews/18522/istoria-ton-proedrikon-eklogon| archive-date= 26 July 2019}}</ref>

==Lyssarides' armed groups== Lyssarides acquired his own armed group in 1960.<ref name="drous">Makarios Drousiotis, EOKA B and the CIA: The Greek-Turkish state in Cyprus, p. 52-64, Ed. Alfadi, 2002</ref> Lyssarides' men were armed under the care of Archbishop Makarios III himself, who trusted them completely.<ref name=drous/> Lyssarides' armed men came mainly from the mountainous areas of the Nicosia District and wore red berets. Thus, they became known as ''Kokkinoskoufides''.<ref name="PhilNewsKokkinos">{{Cite journal|url=http://www.philenews.com/koinonia/eidiseis/article/643166/oi-kokkinoskoyfides-toy-pentadaktyloy-1963-1964|journal=Philenews|title=Οι Κοκκινοσκούφηδες του Πενταδάκτυλου 1963 – 1964|date=20 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726162137/http://www.philenews.com/koinonia/eidiseis/article/643166/oi-kokkinoskoyfides-toy-pentadaktyloy-1963-1964|archive-date=26 July 2019|language=el}}</ref> They were trained by Greek officers in the area of the Machairas Monastery. One of the training officers was the then captain Miltiadis Laskaris, later a lieutenant general and personal friend of Andreas Papandreou.<ref name=PhilNewsKokkinos/>

In the spring of 1963, as Makarios was preparing the 13-point plan (with the possibility of conflict in case the Turkish Cypriots did not accept it), Lyssarides met with the future dictator Georgios Papadopoulos, who visited Cyprus in his official capacity (branch chief of the 2nd Branch of Counterintelligence of the Greek KYP and organiser of the Cypriot KYP).<ref name=drous/> In that meeting with Lyssarides, Papadopoulos pledged to send a new quantity of arms to reinforce the groups, which he did indeed send, through the Greek Cypriots, in July of the same year.<ref name=drous/>

Lyssarides' ''Kokkinoskoufides'' were active in the 1963–64 and 1971–74 periods. In the first period, they fought in the intercommunal conflict against Turkish Cypriots and cleared the Pentadaktylos mountains of all armed Turkish Cypriots, led by Turkish officers.<ref name=PhilNewsKokkinos/> The clearing and occupation of Pentadaktylos was completed on 29 April 1964.<ref name=PhilNewsKokkinos/>

In 1971–74, Lyssarides' gunmen acted as defenders of Archbishop Makarios against EOKA B, which launched attacks on police stations, kidnappings, theft of weapons, etc. In cooperation with the Police Reserve Corps, they managed to significantly reduce the activities of EOKA B. After the coup on 15 July 1974, Lyssarides' groups took to the streets and became the most important source of resistance along with the Presidential Guard and the Reserve Corps, paying a heavy price in blood.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=ΒΑΣΟΣ ΛΥΣΣΑΡΙΔΗΣ Με το όνειρο ζωντανό|url=https://www.tanea.gr/2001/08/09/greece/basos-lyssaridis-me-to-oneiro-zwntano/|date=9 August 2001|first=Giannis|last=Diakogiannis|journal=Ta Nea|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726162416/https://www.tanea.gr/2001/08/09/greece/basos-lyssaridis-me-to-oneiro-zwntano/|archive-date=26 July 2019|language=el}}</ref>

==Views on the Cyprus problem== Lyssarides had a hard-line stance on the Cyprus problem and strongly opposed a possible "bi-zonal and bi-communal federation" as a basis for negotiations, describing such a federation as the very definition of racism; he also argued for the termination of British sovereign rights on the island and the eviction of British military bases, unless the British started taking a more pro-Greek role in the dispute.<ref name="countrystudies.us"/>

==Social activities== Lyssarides served as president of the Pancyprian Medical Association and the Hippocrates Medical Association, of which he was honorary president.<ref name=HofRVLyss/> In addition, he served as vice-president of the Afro-Asian Solidarity Organization (AA.P.S.O.) and secretary general of the International Committee Against Racial Discrimination, Racism and Colonialism.<ref name=HofRVLyss/>

==Awards== In 1996, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Panteion University.<ref name=HofRVLyss/> He was awarded the medal of respitory in 1999. In addition, he was awarded the Supreme Honorary Distinction of the Palestinian Authority by Yasser Arafat in 2002.<ref name=EDAKVLys/> He was also made an honorary citizen of several municipalities in Greece.<ref name=EDAKVLys/>

==Personal life and death== He was married to Barbara Cornwall from 1963 until she died aged 86 in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lyssaridesfoundation.com/viografika/#barbara-cornwall-lyssaridou|title=ΒΑΡΒΑΡΑ CORNWALL ΛΥΣΣΑΡΙΔΟΥ|publisher=Lyssarides Foundation|access-date=6 March 2019|language=el}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.philenews.com/koinonia/eidiseis/article/666291/barbara-lyssaridi-gnnithike-sto-ntitroit-alla-dilone-kypria|title=Βαρβάρα Λυσσαρίδη: Γεννήθηκε στο Ντιτρόιτ αλλά δήλωνε Κύπρια…|publisher=Philenews|date=6 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726135457/http://www.philenews.com/koinonia/eidiseis/article/666291/barbara-lyssaridi-gnnithike-sto-ntitroit-alla-dilone-kypria|archive-date=26 July 2019|language=el}}</ref> Lyssarides died in 2021 shortly before his 101st birthday.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sigmalive.com/news/politics/774996/ektakto-apeviose-o-vasos-lyssaridis|title=Απεβίωσε ο ιδρυτής και επίτιμος Πρόεδρος της ΕΔΕΚ Βάσος Λυσσαρί|publisher=SigmaLive|date=26 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426181732/https://www.sigmalive.com/news/politics/774996/ektakto-apeviose-o-vasos-lyssaridis|archive-date=26 April 2021|language=el}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cyprus-mail.com/2021/04/26/veteran-politician-former-edek-leader-vassos-lyssarides-dies/|title=Veteran politician, former Edek leader Vassos Lyssarides dies|newspaper=Cyprus Mail|date=26 April 2021|access-date=29 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wcfcourier.com/news/world/article_3b2d357c-7981-52c0-acfd-41909f177d4a.html|title=Vassos Lyssarides, respected Cypriot politician, dies at 100|newspaper=The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier|date=26 April 2021|access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lyssarides, Vassos}} Category:1920 births Category:2021 deaths Category:Cypriot men centenarians Category:Greek Cypriots Category:Leaders of political parties in Cyprus Category:Movement for Social Democracy politicians Category:National and Kapodistrian University of Athens alumni Category:People educated at Pancyprian Gymnasium Category:People from Larnaca District Category:Presidents of the House of Representatives (Cyprus) Category:Cypriot people of the EOKA