Talk:Demetris Christofias

Untitled
"Demetris Christofias studied at the Institute of Social Sciences and the Academy of Social Sciences in Moscow from 1969 to 1974 and he got the Diploma and degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History (Ph.D.History). His claims about Ph.D are widdly not accepted. No one have ever seen his thesis or his diploma and nor AKEL nor the Goverment denied that.

In 1974 he was elected to the post of the Central Organising Secretary of EDON and in 1977 of General Secretary. At this post he served till 1987."

...so can anyone tell me where i can get a PhD in zero time? the article mentions years of undergraduate study in Moscow...(69-74)...so when did he study for the doctoral?


 * Five years is a lengthy time I would think. Surely he would like to have good documents on his education after 5 years in Moscow? --Stat-ist-ikk (talk) 19:47, 2 August 2011 (UTC)

The intro
The intro is currently bad. It concentrates on his opinion on USSR and Cuba, which are outside his power to influence, and completely ignores his stance towards the reunification of the island, which is what got him elected, and is the central theme of his presidency. Zocky | picture popups 18:01, 29 February 2008 (UTC)
 * I agree, I have added his stance on the reunification of the island to the lead and moved his opinion to the body. - Fedayee (talk) 21:07, 3 March 2008 (UTC)
 * I view his opinions on Cuba as more real than the reunification issue. The continued presence of the British seems to be more paramount to his view on this world, I should easily think he became President in 1973. Although the UN is not a country, they still administrate 4 percent of the island. Turkey has 37 percent, whereas Britain only has three. No wonder the Turks had an easy going during the invasion of 1974. --Stat-ist-ikk (talk) 08:26, 26 April 2011 (UTC)

The name of Christofias
Do the correct name of Christofias isn't Demetris [dē'mētris]? Today was interview with Christofias in Euronews and he was named as Demetris Christofias in subtitles. Google gives 287 000 results for Demetris Christofias and 216 000 for Dimitris Christofias, I think the article have to be renamed. Roberts7 23:58, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

He is not an atheist .. for God sake!
He is Christian Orthodox. He is not atheist.

Can someone pls change that as I dont really know how this thing works. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Kazos-cy (talk • contribs) 10:34, 8 March 2008 (UTC)
 * Well, this is debatable. From time to time he had expressed an opinion about this, that he is an atheist, and on other occasions he "encouraged people to pray at Easter". He has never strongly expressed an opinion about this issue; probably to maintain unity, or because such a statement would be viewed as rather unfavorable by the general Cyprus public. Others say, that he will never openly admit that he is an atheist as long as his elderly deeply relegious mother is still alive (show wouldn't want to hurt her by saying that). 79.131.172.206 (talk) 15:51, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

excuse me, but does it really matter what he is? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.168.12.24 (talk) 16:52, 24 April 2008 (UTC)

The source plainly states that he is a self-declared atheist, which isn't unusual for a communist party leader. Stating otherwise in the article is vandalism. --84.71.95.70 (talk) 00:51, 11 June 2008 (UTC)

Doctoral Studies
On more than one occasion, Dimitris Christofias himself, has claimed to have received a Ph.D. (in history) as a result of his studies in the Former Soviet Union (1969-1974). This seems to be a lie. This conclusion is evidenced by: 1. He studied in Moscow from 1969 to 1974. Now, how the system worked, at least at that time, was that the first year was spent by all foreign students to learn Russian, and then go on to their normal university studies. This leaves four years of University studies, to complete a Diploma (Bachelor's) and a Doctorate. What is strange also, is that in the Russian (and Soviet) system, university degree studies were five years long. 2. A search in the Lenin Library in Moscow (where Doctoral Theses are usually archived) produced no thesis of Christofias.

I think the important fact here is not whether the article is accurate or not when it comes to his academic credentials, but rather his claim to have completed Doctoral studies.

Ferson (talk) 06:54, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Can somebody provide us with a verifiable source tha Christofia's has a doctoral diploma. According to the topic on the soviet system of education it takes 6-8 years to earn a nanuk kanditat, assuming he already spoke Russian. He did it in 5... 147.52.186.37 (talk) 17:34, 29 June 2009 (UTC)

There is absolutely no evidence he has a doctorate. From his official website : http://www.christofias.com.cy/site-221-gr.php (in greek) it states : "αποφοίτησε με τον τίτλο του διδάκτορα Ιστορικών Επιστημών" translated to "graduated with the title of 'teacher' if Historical Sciences". This is not a doctorate (although similarly spelt in greek). I can find nothing remotely similar in the Russian tertiary education system; it seems to go from bachelor to master to doctorate. Perhaps some kind of post graduate diploma (less than Masters more than Bachelor)? It would be good if we could get someone with a knowledge of Russian Unis to clear this up as it's a basic fact and would go a fair bit in improving accuracy. I think the confusion could have arisen because of the similarities in the names of the degrees "didaktorato" (what he has) and "doktorato" (PHD). —Preceding unsigned comment added by 124.168.65.25 (talk) 13:42, 20 July 2009 (UTC)

He does not have a doctorate. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Ankateif (talk • contribs) 23:49, 24 August 2013 (UTC)

He is not communist in the "American" sense
He is pro-Market and that's documented. He may be self-labelled Communist in the past but also many European leaders are labelled socialist without being what most Americans think, 'the state just before becoming communist'. --Leladax (talk) 03:18, 23 July 2008 (UTC)


 * The AKEL party was the main Communist Party of Cyprus and

was communist in all the meanings, European and American. Now of course made, as many other such parties adaptive changes in his ideology and policy. In Italy there is also a communist head of state, Giorgio Napolitano, only the main Communist Party there changed its name to the Democratic Party of the Left and underwent some reforms. In fact he is the first communist head of state in the European Union- since  2006. User:Cpt.schoener (talk) 10:03, 10 April 2009 (UTC)
 * I would like to put in a good word for the "Red Prince". Modena is essentially the epicentre of Italian autoproduction. Modena has a commie Mayor, so communists make good cars (according to Clarkson). Other than that, lets keep Napolitano out of this. --Stat-ist-ikk (talk) 08:35, 26 April 2011 (UTC)

One could ask if Senator Menendez of New Jersey has an opinion on Christofias. It could be that Senator Menendez is PC, but even he dislikes it how Christofias complains about a military presence in Northern Cyprus, but it is OK to visit Cuba, and tell Castro to (shall we say) keep up the good work. Judging him by the views of a US Senator, Christofias might want to militarise Cuba. Christofias would also appreciate that you do as he says, not as he does. --82.134.28.194 (talk) 13:04, 24 February 2011 (UTC)

'Blackshirt'
I can see no reference to him anywhere being referred to as 'Blackshirt'. If you wish to add this to the article, please add a reliable reference. That's how Wikipedia works. Thank you. Span (talk) 21:48, 23 May 2012 (UTC)

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