Talk:Demetris Christofias

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"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).

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?

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) 17:15, 29 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]

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)[reply]

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)[reply]

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)[reply]

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)[reply]

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)[reply]

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)[reply]

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)[reply]

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)[reply]

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)[reply]