kathimerini.gr
Cyprus Leaders Meet in Geneva Amid Uncertainty Over Negotiation Restart
President Christodulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tatar met in Geneva on Monday, October 30, 2023, for an informal UN-led conference to discuss the Cyprus issue, with bilateral meetings scheduled for Tuesday; the ultimate goal remains ambiguous.
- What are the immediate, concrete actions or decisions expected from this Geneva meeting?
- President Christodulides of Cyprus arrived in Geneva for an informal, expanded conference on the Cyprus issue, accompanied by ministers and advisors. Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar arrives today. The aim is unclear—restarting negotiations, maintaining the prospect of them, or simply exploring options.
- What are the significant long-term impacts of this meeting on the future of Cyprus and the region?
- While a resumption of negotiations is unlikely, the meeting might lead to a roadmap addressing checkpoints or Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), maintaining the effort until the next Turkish Cypriot elections. The EU, though not officially participating, will likely have representation.
- What are the underlying causes and potential consequences of the current stalemate in Cyprus negotiations?
- This Geneva meeting follows a 2019 meeting where Tatar introduced 'sovereign equality' and a two-state solution, and the 2015 Crans-Montana talks. The UN's objectives and desired outcome remain uncertain, though bilateral meetings between the UN Secretary-General and involved parties are planned, including Turkey and the Greek Cypriot side.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article presents a relatively neutral framing of the event, acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding the goals and potential outcomes. While it mentions the past failures of similar meetings (e.g., Crans Montana), it does not overly emphasize them to frame the current meeting negatively. The language used is descriptive rather than judgmental.
Language Bias
The language used in the article is generally neutral and descriptive. While there is some use of terms like "άδοξη" (inglorious) to describe past meetings, this is contextual and doesn't appear to be used to unduly influence the reader's opinion. Overall, the tone is informative and objective.
Bias by Omission
The article provides a comprehensive overview of the Geneva meeting, including the participants, schedule, and potential outcomes. However, it omits details about the specific positions or proposals each party will present. While this might be due to the pre-meeting nature of the report, this omission could limit the reader's understanding of the potential sticking points or areas of agreement.
Gender Bias
The article mentions several key figures, both male and female, without apparent gender bias. While the focus is primarily on political leaders, the inclusion of female officials like Marielena Raouna suggests an effort towards balanced representation. However, a deeper analysis of the gender distribution within the larger delegations would be necessary for a more definitive conclusion.
Sustainable Development Goals
The meeting in Geneva aims to restart negotiations for a Cyprus settlement, which directly relates to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by fostering dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution. The involvement of the UN Secretary-General underscores the international commitment to achieving a lasting peace on the island.