The Maronites of Cyprus

THE MARONITES OF CYPRUS 15 Despite the Turkish military occupation and the displacement of most Maronites from their villages, the Maronite community, assisted and supported by the government of Cyprus, has managed to preserve its mores and customs, and in 1988 the Maronite Archbishopric returned to Nicosia after 315 years. On 1 February 1995 the Republic of Cyprus signed the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, which includes the Maronites, the Armenians and the Latins, and on 17 October 2008 Cypriot Maronite Arabic (CMA) was recognised by the Republic of Cyprus as a minority language, based on the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages of the Council of Europe. The community, small in size but rich in tradition, is organised socially and culturally and some of its members have distinguished themselves in the private and public sector, thus contributing to the cultural, economic and social development of Cyprus. ● Panoramic view of Turkish-occupied Kormakitis. ● The occupied Karpasha village. ● Ayia Marina Skyllouras village is presently an army camp of the Turkish military.