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Independence Day Reception

Remarks by Ambassador Michael Klosson

The Residence

July 2, 2004

Mr. Acting President, Ministers, honored guests, fellow Americans and friends from all over Cyprus, my wife Boni and I are very pleased to welcome you on this two hundred and twenty-eighth anniversary of the independence of the United States of America. 

For most Americans, the Fourth of July means family gatherings, barbeque cookouts, fresh watermelon, trips to the beach.  The Fourth means marching bands, neighborhood parades and fireworks displays.

But more important it's a time when Americans pause to reflect on our values, and what it means to live in a free, democratic, diverse, and tolerant society. It's a time for us to salute our founding fathers for demanding independence and throwing off the yoke of tyranny. It's a moment to pause and say thank you to those living and those long passed who have sacrificed to protect our freedom and to secure our rights.  We are especially mindful of fellow Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice to establish or regain the freedom of peoples oceans away from American shores.

Cyprus is a good setting for coming together with friends to celebrate July Fourth. In addition to sun, sand, souvlaki and kebab, this is an island where freedom and democracy have taken root.  

In my speeches and in conversations with Cypriots, I often point out the richness of the relationship between the United States and Cyprus. Our people have long enjoyed a friendly, beneficial partnership that I am pleased to say has evolved since the days 139 years ago when the first American Consul came to Cyprus.

In 1865, President Abraham Lincoln named Luigi Palma di Cesnola the American Consul to Cyprus. Cesnola, for better or worse, ensured that Cyprus would always have an important place in the annals of antiquities.  It was his decade-long tour in Cyprus that resulted in one of the most lucrative treasure hunts in archaeological history. Cesnola became the first director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.  His finds from Cyprus formed the corner stone of the new museum's collection.  Rest assured that we now have bilateral agreements in place that prevent everyone, including Cesnoloa’s official successors, from following suit.

I bring up this page from our history, however, to make a different point.  Could Lincoln have imagined back then how vibrant the ties between Americans and Cypriots would one day become?  Could he have envisioned a time when over 4,000 Americans would live on this island?  When over 30,000 people of Cypriot origin would live in the United States? When dozens of American-owned companies, subsidiaries and partnerships would be operating strongly here -- some of which made a generous contribution to our reception?  Could Lincoln have known that in 2004 the United States and Cyprus would be closely linked through their cooperation in the war on terrorism, non-proliferation and law enforcement? I dare say the world is a better place because Americans call Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots friends.

I am happy that this Embassy calls those of you here tonight friends. Thank you for coming and for celebrating American Independence Day with us. May our friendship be long and unwavering.