How the Maronite's dialect could become extinct in Northern Cyprus

(8 Jun 2006) SHOTLIST EDITORIAL NOTE The self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is not recognised by any country other than Turkey. Its authorities therefore have to be referred to as an "administration." Although in practice they carry out the business of government as in any other country it is not correct to refer to the Turkish Cypriot government. 1. Trucks crossing Ledra St Checkpoint 2. Flags of Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus 3. Convoy on road 4. Interior of truck showing driver 5. Truck enters village 6. Seated Maronite villagers await truck 7. Interior of back of truck 8. Boxes of provisions inside truck 9. Various of provisions being unloaded 10. SOUNDBITE (English) Aileen Magner, United Nations police officer: "It's like a huge community gathering for them. Its like the highlight of their two weeks. They all get to meet and to meet people from outside their community as well. So yes they really enjoy it." 11. Close up of Maronite lady 12. Various of derelict school 13. Elias Kassapis, resident, walking in front of school; tilt up to roof of school 14. SOUNDBITE (Christian Maronite Arabic) Elias Kassapis, former school teacher: "The young people left because they wanted to work and the work was in the Greek sector. They didn't know the Turkish language. The language was one of the most serious difficulties. Now there are only old people here." 15. Interior of school - with derelict roof 16. Zoom into drawing on wall 17. SOUNDBITE (Christian Maronite Arabic) Elias Kassapis, former school teacher: "No, I don't think the young people will come back. For thirty-two years they have had their homes there in the south. They married there, their children are grown up now and they go to school so they cannot leave the school. If they want to come back to this village I think they will come as visitors to see their old parents and go back again. But I have the opinion that some old pensioners will return to the village for the remainder of their life." 18 Wide of town with church 19. Close up of church Exterior 20. Various of interior of church with priest 21. SOUNDBITE (Greek) Father Antonios Frangiscou: "On the weekends - because they come from the other side of Nicosia, about 4500 people are here, and if it's a holiday, up to a thousand, even two thousand. Like for example this Easter we had 3,000 people here in this very church!" 22. Various of interior of coffee shop with group of Maronites 23. Cut away of hands of Martha Ioannou, resident 24. SOUNDBITE (Christian Maronite Arabic) Martha Ioannou, resident: "My children know the dialect, but because they mix with the Greek Orthodox people in the south they talk in Greek and slowly they are forgetting their language." 25. Various of residents unloading provisions 26. Various of Kudret Akah, Political Advisor to the Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry at his desk 27. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Kudret Akay, Political Advisor to the Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry: "With the previous government the relationship between the government and the Maronites was rather restricted depending on the administrative issues. Maronites needed something the Turkish administrative authorities provided. However eith the present government because of the series of measures being taken to improve their life a more harmonious relationship does exist. They are able to come and talk with us. They can share their problems we try to provide solutions to them. So it is a greatly improved relationship we are talking about." 28. Wide of villagers unloading provisions 29. Maronite woman LEADIN: STORYLINE: Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...