US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have identified Julie Davis, currently the US ambassador to Cyprus, to serve as charge d’affaires at the US embassy in Kyiv, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said on Thursday.
Commenting on Davis’ appointment, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said it was “not an exaggeration to say that Cyprus-US relations are perhaps at their closest, their highest level since the founding of the Republic of Cyprus,” adding that this was a result of the government’s foreign policy and its relationship with Davis.
“In the coming period, this temporary exercise of her duties (in Ukraine) will also enable the Republic of Cyprus to deepen our relations with the US – this is clear – and the Ambassador will have a direct channel of communication with the US administration, which entrusted her with this crucial post,” Letymbiotis said
Letymbiotis added that “the Republic was informed in a timely manner […] and of course, we have given our consent.”
He said “all procedural arrangements have been made so that she can exercise her duties without hindrance in the Republic of Cyprus, as she remains accredited as ambassador.”
The spokesman said the fact that a diplomat with such experience and skills has been appointed as ambassador in Nicosia “demonstrates the importance that the US attaches to Cyprus”, adding that since Davis was posted in Cyprus relations with the US have been “greatly upgraded”.
The move comes as Washington tries to broker a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia and after former ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink stepped down last month.
Davis is expected to arrive in Kyiv early next week and will continue to oversee the US diplomatic works in Cyprus, where state department officials do not anticipate any disruption to her responsibilities.
She is expected to return to her Cyprus post once a new US ambassador to Ukraine is nominated and confirmed by the Senate.
Earlier on Friday, director of the president’s press office Victor Papadopoulos told CyBC radio that the government sees the interim appointment as an important opportunity to deepen Cyprus’ strategic relations with the United States.
The trust of the American government through Davis – given her excellent relations with the president of the Republic – constitutes a stronger access to the American government, Papadopoulos said.
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