CYPRUS'S "LATINS" CHART COURSE FOR GROWTH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NICOSIA 000124 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM CY SUBJECT: CYPRUS'S "LATINS" CHART COURSE FOR GROWTH REF: A. NICOSIA 52 ¶B. NICOSIA 111 ¶C. NICOSIA 115 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The smallest of Cyprus's three "official religious groups," the "Latins," originally the descendants of the island's Frankish and Venetian overlords, are also the least homogenous. This Roman Catholic grouping, along with the Armenian Orthodox and Maronite Catholics, were recognized upon Cypriot independence as special from the two "communities" -- Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot. Each, however, had to choose a community with which to align, ultimately selecting the Greek Cypriot side. The Latins' numbers dwindling due to intermarriage with the dominant Greek Cypriot majority, the group's elders, in particular Official Representative Benito Mantovani, have charted a new course and are attempting to grow the community by taking in immigrants who share their Roman Catholic faith. These newcomers could swell the Latins' numbers considerably, but might also create internal friction with the old-money, mainly white establishment currently filling the pews. Similarly, we doubt the GOC would countenance the community's claims of rapid growth, since a mandatory extension of expensive benefits to members would result. END SUMMARY. -------------- Shadows of a Rich History -------------- ¶2. (U) Numbering barely 1,000 at the time of Cyprus's independence, the Roman Catholic "Latins" claim crusader Richard the Lionheart's 1191 AD arrival as their genesis on the island. Franks and Venetians would control Cyprus for nearly 400 years, until the Turkish conquest in 1571. Though always having been a religious minority, the Latins receive credit for many of the island's gems, including Bellapais monastery near Kyrenia and Nicosia's St. Sophia church (Selimye mosque since Ottoman reign). Most of Cyprus's Latins trace their roots to the 1800s, however, when, as the Ottoman Empire's hold over the island declined, many Roman Catholic tradesmen and merchants immigrated here from Italy, France and Dalmatia. ¶3. (U) Like the Armenian and Maronite groups (Reftels),when Cyprus became independent in 1960, the Latins chose to align with the Greek Cypriot Orthodox majority instead of the Turkish Cypriot Muslims. Again, like their fellow minorities, most moved south to the government-controlled area in the population exchanges that followed the 1974 conflict. Unlike the aforementioned groups, who claim a shared ethnicity, the Latins identify themselves solely on the basis of their Roman Catholic affiliation. Consequently, the community's fortunes parallel those of its churches, principally Holy Cross in Nicosia and St. Catherine's in Limassol. -------------- What's in a Name? Numbers! -------------- ¶4. (U) For thirty years after independence, the Latin community was shrinking toward oblivion, with mixed marriages and absorption into the dominant Orthodox majority to blame. By 1991, utilizing then-accepted measuring standards, they numbered only 290. The sharp decline prompted a "registration drive" that brought the total back to around 1,000, Community Representative Benito Mantovani told Emboffs January 25. Further, the community leader and non-voting MP hoped to grow his flock further. One element in Mantovani's strategy was to convince the government that, since acceptance of the Roman Catholic Church defined his community, it required a change in name from the amorphous, misleading "Latins." He thought the "Latin Catholic community" sounded about right. ¶5. (U) In addition to lobbying the government for the new designation, Mantovani was pushing Latins to accept newcomers into the group. He unofficially included as constituents several thousand EU expats and their spouses who practice Roman Catholicism, as well as approximately 5,000 Filipino and 1,300 Sri Lankans. (Note: Many of the latter Asian workers may also soon be eligible for permanent residency (septel). End note.) Summing these diverse population pockets, Mantovani calculated a "Latin" community as large as 10,000 - 12,000, which, if accepted by the GOC, would make it Cyprus's largest "official religious group" (of the three NICOSIA 00000124 002 OF 002 recognized religious minorities). -------------- New and Old Missions -------------- ¶6. (U) Owing to the presence of the recent immigrants, Mantovani said his responsibilities as the Latin representative had grown in recent years. More and more he handled immigration issues, although on an individual and project level and not in shaping legislation in Parliament. Mantovani was proudest of his efforts in standing up a community center in Limassol, the St. Francis Shelter, which serves the immigrant populations in Cyprus's largest port city. He also touted 360-year old Colegio Terra Santa, Cyprus's oldest high school and the Latins' flagship learning center. Although it had hit rough patches of late, Terra Santa was recovering, particularly after a well-known Greek Cypriot education administrator completed a comprehensive review of the institution's academics and finances and accepted the job of principal. Surprising to Mantovani, Greek Cypriot students actually outnumbered Latins and other minorities at the Franciscan high school. ¶7. (U) Mantovani continued to fight for more financial support from the central government; he complained about not having a specific and perennial budget line-item for his religious group. The government provided only $22,000 for four Catholic priests; he would ask for more funds. Convincing the GOC to accept his claims on the Latins' size increase would translate into a huge bump-up in financing, Mantovani wagered. He felt he was on solid ground with the request, since the GOC covered Greek Orthodox priests' salaries to the tune of many million of pounds. -------------- Not Looking a Gift Horse... -------------- ¶8. (U) Aware that his group's official total barely reached 1,000, Mantovani knew not to complain too loudly. He would not, for example, contest the recent Defense Ministry decision to draft minority youth into the Greek Cypriot National Guard (Ref B). Similarly, he willingly seconded Greek Cypriots' repeated complaints about the condition of Christian religious sites in the north, personally focusing on a Catholic church in Famagusta now used by Turkish Cypriots as a post office and on a cemetery. ¶9. (U) Turning to national politics and the group's voting practices, Mantovani considered Latins more moderate than the Greek Cypriot electorate, at least on the Cyprus Problem. The group split 50-50 on the 2004 Annan Plan referendum, for example, while 76 percent of Greek Cypriots voted no. In national elections, however, Latins voted conservatively, he assessed. DISY traditionally won their allegiance, although center-right DIKO, President Papadopoulos's party, was gaining ground. Leftist AKEL was lucky to garner five percent of the Latin vote in most elections, Mantovani noted. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Owing to their flexibility in defining themselves, the Latins are potentially the most dynamic of Cyprus's three official religious groups. Linked by only their Roman Catholicism and not by a particular ethnicity, the group might even grow in size, helped by Cyprus's EU accession which mandates freedom of movement for community citizens and easier paths to permanent residence for island-dwelling immigrants. Particularly if Mantovani is successful in adding "Catholic" to the group's identification -- or even in making more Roman Catholics aware they can claim minority status -- the Latins could grow and eventually press the Greek Cypriot Orthodox majority for greater benefits. We doubt they would gain additional political influence commensurate with any growth in numbers, however. Such a divergent group, featuring Venetian "aristocrats" like Mantovani alongside Filipina housemaids and Sri Lankan dishwashers, would seem anything but monolithic and disciplined, and thus be ripe for Greek Cypriot divide and conquer tactics. SCHLICHER