With excitement and deep sadness, the President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou says goodbye to the mayor of Ioannina Moses Elisafwho passed away after an unprecedented battle with cancer at the age of 69.

In her statement, Katerina Sakellaropoulou emphasizes that “his untimely death makes the city poorer, and the people of Gianni are deprived of a municipal ruler with a rare honesty of character, non-committal, opponent of intolerance and fanaticism, who built bridges between people and was inspired by his spirit and vision.“.

He also noted: “A Romaniote Jew, from a thriving Jewish community that perished during the Holocaust, true to his traditions, drew strength from a painful past to defend democracy, freedom, belonging.”

He concluded: “Doctor, university professor, passionate about the public, he sought to emphasize the cultural imprint of his small place, which shared so many cultures. His gentle, unifying, courageous and visionary personality will be missed by his fellow citizens and by all of us who knew him, talked to him, worked with him and were bound to him by invaluable friendship.”

Source: RES-IPE