Former PM Xenophon Zolotas dies, aged 100
Professor and Athens Academy member Xenophon Zolotas, a leading figure in postwar Greece and, briefly, prime minister of the country, died late Thursday at the age of 100. At the forefront of economic policy and intellectual life for many decades, he put his seal on modern Greek history. Offering his condolences to the family of Zolotas, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis said, «Xenophon Zolotas was an active participant for many years in the arduous endeavor of the Greeks for democracy and progress.» He added that the feat of postwar reconstruction of the national economy, which paved the way for Greece’s path to Europe, bore the stamp of Zolotas. «The impressive scope and importance of his work raised him to eminence in the international academic community, and his service to the public and political life of the country place him among those who contributed decisively to the course of Greece in the 20th century. His vision of a strong Greece, his honesty and diligence, will continue to inspire future generations,» said the prime minister. «We will miss him,» said PASOK leader George Papandreou, noting that Zolotas had taught his father, Andreas Papandreou, and had left his mark on significant moments in modern Greek economic history.
