Accommodating Minorities in Conflict Resolution: The Case of the Maronites of Cyprus
Accommodating Minorities in Conflict Resolution: The Case of the Maronites of Cyprus

Summary/Abstract: This article provides an overview of the Cyprus conflict as an introduction to the problem of the refugees that emerged after the division of the island in 1974. It particularly focuses on the case of the Maronites of Cyprus, an ethnic group that has been present in Cyprus for over millennia, geographically enclaved, a situation that eased the preservation of their unique language, the Cypriot Maronite Arabic. However, the mass displacement of population that occurred after the geographical division of Cyprus has had a deep impact in the development of the Maronite identity and the preservation of their culture and language. Following the occupation of their traditional settlements by the Turkish military, the largest part of Maronite community was forced to leave to the Greek-ruled part of the island. After analyzing the impact of the conflict on this national minority, the article provides an insight into the demands of the Maronite community in the negotiations of the settlement of the Cyprus conflict and the current initiatives that intend to preserve the cultural heritage of the Maronites of Cyprus.

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