Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07NICOSIA124
2007-02-12 15:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Nicosia
Cable title:
CYPRUS'S "LATINS" CHART COURSE FOR GROWTH
how-toVZCZCXRO5021 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHNC #0124/01 0431526 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 121526Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY NICOSIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7515 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4863 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 1030 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0773 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
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
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
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