CYPRIOT MARONITE COMMUNITY BETWEEN A ROCK AND HARD

C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 000111

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM CY
SUBJECT: CYPRIOT MARONITE COMMUNITY BETWEEN A ROCK AND HARD
PLACE


Classified By: AMBASSADOR RONALD L. SCHLICHER FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (
D)


1. (C) Summary: Maronite parliamentary representative
Antonis Hadji Roussos told Polchief that Maronites in north
Cyprus still suffered violations of freedom of movement,
religion and property ownership. At the same time, Maronites
living in the ROC did not seek recourse from Turkish Cypriot
authorities because of the likely backlash from Greek
Cypriots over their seeking preferential treatment from "the
occupiers." Haji Roussos hoped that the United States could
use its influence with Turkey and the Turkish military to
press for greater flexibility on issues ranging from access
to churches, permission for Maronites living in the south to
develop their properties in the north, and the return of an
important icon allegedly stolen from a Maronite church.
Polchief underscored our interest in promoting freedom of
movement and freedom of worship for the Maronite community,
but stressed that the full range of Maronite concerns could
only be addressed through a comprehensive solution to the
Cyprus problem. In the meantime, we suggested, it might be
useful for the Maronite religious minority to appoint a
committee to serve as a liaison to authorities in the north.
Hadji Roussos agreed to consider this approach. End summary.


2. (C) Polchief visited Maronite parliamentary representative
Antonis Hadji Roussos and a cross-section of the Maronite
religious minority's leadership to discuss recent
developments with respect to Maronite issues in the north.
(Note: The Maronites are not a "community" in the Cyprus
sense of the word. There are only two communities on Cyprus
-- Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot. The Maronites are one
of three officially recognized religious minorities, together
with the Armenians and the Latins -- formally affiliated with
the Greek Cypriot community.) Hadji Roussos's colleagues,
including representatives from each of the four Maronite
villages in the north, outlined problems including: continued
difficulty for enclaved Maronites attempting to return home
after visiting relatives in the south, the lack of access to
important churches in areas under the direct control of the
Turkish military, the return of houses currently occupied by
the Turkish military, and the issue of Maronite land that has
been registered in the names of Turkish Cypriots or is being
cultivated by Turkish settlers. In addition, Maronites
living in the north had reportedly seen an important missing
icon -- the icon of Ayia Marina -- hanging in a house that
the Turkish military was using as a kind of unofficial
museum.


3. (C) Hadji Roussos hoped that the United States would use
its influence with the Turkish Cypriots, the Turkish
government and the Turkish military to address the specific
concerns of the Maronites. Polchief expressed our compassion
and sympathy for the difficulties the Maronites faced in
exercising freedom of worship and freedom of movement. We
dealt with these issues in considerable detail in both the
annual Human Rights Report and the Religious Freedom Report.
It was clear, however, that the only way to address the full
range of Maronite concerns was through a comprehensive
settlement of the Cyprus issue. In the meantime, we would
continue to make the point in our conversations with the
Turkish Cypriot leadership about the importance of reaching
out to the Maronites as a key pro-solution constituency in
the south and the need to accommodate reasonable requests for
access to religious sites and the use of Maronite properties.
We could not, however, serve as the primary interface
between the Maronite leadership and the Turkish Cypriot
authorities. Polchief suggested that the Maronite minority
establish a standing committee of some kind to engage
directly with authorities in the north -- including, if
necessary, the Turkish military -- on a more regular and
systematic basis. Hadji Roussos agreed that this was a
sensible idea and expressed his willingness to explore it
further within the Maronite minority.


4. (C) COMMENT: The Maronite minority has strong ties to a
particular network of villages in the north that includes
about 150 mostly elderly enclaved residents. The Turkish
Cypriot leadership has repeatedly reaffirmed to us its
interest in helping the Maronites improve their access to

private property and religious sites. Some of the churches
in question, however, are located either within or close to
Turkish military facilities. Military authorities have
demonstrated little interest in accommodating Maronite
concerns. We will continue to raise these issues in our
contacts in the north, but with little expectation of any
immediate breakthrough.
SCHLICHER