US committed to a just and lasting peace on the island, says Fisher – US Embassy Remains Committed to Promoting Community Communication
The United States remains committed to a just and lasting peace on the island, the country's Ambassador to Cyprus, Julie Fisher said on Monday, during a ceremony at the Embassy for the 50th anniversary of the deaths in 1974 of the then US Ambassador to Cyprus, Roger Davis and the Embassy employee, Antoinette Varnava.
As stated in a statement from the US Embassy in Cyprus, on Monday the Embassy completed a series of memorial events for Ambassador Roger Davis and Cypriot Embassy employee “and colleague” Antoinette Varnava, “who were killed fifty years ago today, August 19, 1974, in a tragic time on the island ».
Following a moment of silence, Ms. Fisher said that the tragic loss of Ambassador Davis and Antoinette Varnava has affected US Embassy employees for 50 years, “just as the tragic loss and unknown fates of so many others have long affected this island”.
The United States, he noted, “remains committed to a just and lasting peace on the island” adding that the American Embassy remains committed to promoting communication between the communities of Cyprus. “Why’ therefore we continue to work for a just and lasting solution, based on the agreed framework of the Security Council, for the benefit of all Cypriots,” Ms. Fisher said, according to the statement.
She also reiterated her support US Embassy “in the critical work” of the Commission on Missing Persons to recover and locate those still missing, including American citizens, and to return their remains to their families, it noted.
As reported, a wreath-laying ceremony took place at the Embassy on Monday while the US flag flew at half-mast at the Embassy, while Ms. Fischer will also pay her respects at the grave of Ms. Varnavas in Kormakitis.
It is noted that the Monday's celebrations were preceded by two previous ceremonies in the United States.
The California National Guard held a military honors ceremony at Ambassador Davis' burial site in El Cerrito, California, on August 7 as he preceded his diplomatic career , served as an officer in the US Army in B’ World War.
In June, it is reported, Ms. Fisher joined Deputy Under Secretary for Political Affairs John Bass and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Yuri Kim in a wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial for the fallen diplomats at the State Department, where Mr. Davis's name is engraved on the memorial plaque.
