Varnara, Antoinette (1942-1974)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1974 Aug 22 p. 3

Birth date: 1942

text of obituary:

U.S. Ambassador Dies In Cyprus Violence

The rising tide of resentment and frustration among Creek [sic Greek] Cypriots over the success of the Turkish invasion forces in Cyprus erupted into a violent anti-American demonstration in the capital city of Nicosia on Monday which claimed the life of the U. S. Ambassador, Rodger P. Davies.

Accusing the U.S. of siding with Turkey, several hundred demonstrators stormed the American embassy, stoning the building and setting a number of vehicles on fire. Snipers, believed to be members of EOKA-B, Greek Cypriot terrorist group, took advantage of the confusion to scale the fence surrounding the compound and began shooting into the embassy with automatic weapons.

Davies was hit by a bullet as he and his aides took refuge in a corridor of the building. A Greek Cypriot secretary, 32-year-old Antoinette Varnara, also was fatally wounded.

Using modern American tanks and other war equipment, Turkish forces last week ignored an earlier cease-fire agreement to crush Greek Cypriot forces and extend their control over at least one-third of the island. They reportedly hoped to establish a separate enclave under Turkish rule.

The U. S. has supplied arms to Greece and Turkey since both are members of NATO and are considered vital to the eastern European defense line.

The Turkish success on Cyprus places new difficulties in the path of resuming peace talks between Greek and Turkish representatives in Geneva. The new civilian government in Athens says it will not resume negotiations unless Turkey withdraws from the areas it took by force.