Kościoły na Cyprze – ofiary konfliktu czy katalizatory zmian? Dyplomacja oparta na wierze (faith-based diplomacy) w cypryjskim procesie pojednania
Churches in Cyprus – victims of the conflict or catalysts for change? Faith-based diplomacy in the Cypriot reconciliation process

Summary/Abstract: The aim of the article is to provide a deeper understanding of how faith-based diplomats help to promote reconciliation in Cyprus. Interfaith dialogue on the island has a centuries-old history, but with the onset of the so-called Cyprus conflict, it has taken on a new significance. Since the island’s division, religious leaders have not convened to settle concerns for more than three decades, despite the fact that the dispute has negatively impacted religious freedom and access to places of religious worship. Since 2009, as part of the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process (RTCYPP), religious leaders have been attempting to foster reconciliation on the island, essentially becoming faith-based diplomats. The research topic was to examine how religious leaders’ activities could contribute to building trust, respect and tolerance in Cyprus. The author formulates the hypothesis that faith-based diplomacy can be effective in resolving conflict, in which religion is a significant identification aspect for one or both sides of society; hence, it might be used as a tool in the Cypriot reconciliation process. Although religious divisions are not the root cause of the Cyprus issue, as a result religion has gained a prominent political function. The article relied on reports from the United States Department of State from 2000-2022, Freedom House reports, and UN reports. The source literature on the role of religion under Ottoman and British authority in Cyprus was also analyzed.

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