FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

American Hellenic Institute

August 23, 2005

CHARLES W. MCCASKILL, SR.

1923 - 2005

We are deeply saddened at the passing on August 13, 2005 of Charles W. McCaskill, Sr., a distinguished retired foreign officer and friend who served in Thessaloniki Greece, 1957 – 60, in Cyprus, 1960 – 64, and as the Cyprus Desk officer at the Department of State, 1965 – 67. His last overseas posting was in Athens, Greece, 1978 – 82. He joined the Foreign Service in 1947 and was the first Greek language trainee in the State Department. He also served in Tehran, Iran, in Bombay, India and was Consul General in Madras, India. He and Ambassador Taylor G. Belcher served together in Cyprus in the early years of Cypriot independence in the 1960’s.

“Charlie” McCaskill was noted for his understanding of Cyprus, its people, culture, and civilization. As an American diplomat he displayed unique sensitivity about the political dynamics that affected Greece and Cyprus. Even after his retirement from the Foreign Service, he never lost interest in the two countries he came to know so well.

His contribution in the discussion of American policy toward Greece and Cyprus showed the clarity of his thinking and the honesty of his opinions, even as his health declined. “Charlie” honored us with his participation in conferences on U.S. policy towards Greece and Cyprus. The American Hellenic Institute volume The United States and Cyprus – Double Standards and the Rule of Law includes two insightful papers on Greece and Cyprus. His first paper titled: “U.S.- Greek Relations and the Problems of the Aegean and Cyprus” was delivered on April 29, 1988. His second paper titled: “Cyprus – Twenty-Five Years Later: A Diplomat Looks Back,” was delivered on January 28, 1989. Both papers are pertinent today and should be required reading for persons involved or interested in U.S. – Greece and U.S. – Cyprus relations.

He will be greatly missed by all of us who knew him for so many years. We extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Jacqueline and family – Charles W. McCaskill Jr., and his wife, Norma, Stephen H. McCaskill and his wife, Holly and grandson, Jared W. McCaskill. Eternal be his memory




For more information about the American Hellenic Institute in Washington, D.C., contact Georgia Economou, Director of Public Relations for AHI, at (202) 785-8430 or at georgia@ahiworld.org, or visit the groups' website at http://www.ahiworld.org. AHI was founded in 1974 following Turkey's illegal invasion and occupation of 37.3% of Cyprus. It is a membership-based organization with members throughout the nation. AHI's core mission is to promote American values and the rule of law in U.S. foreign policy and to strengthen relations between the U.S. and Greece and Cyprus as being in the best interests of the United States. It conducts an active program with Congress in espousing and supporting legislation designed to promote American interests in Southeast Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean and is registered with the Congress under the Lobbying Act. The AHI Foundation is the first think-tank devoted exclusively to the study of the issues confronting the Greek American community. This organization sponsors conferences, seminars and publishes books and other materials on the issues.

HCS maintains an extensive archives for AHI articles and press releases which visitors may browse under the American Hellenic Institute Releases section of the archives at http://www.helleniccomserve.com/contents.html.





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