Front Page Headlines
President gets failing grade for pandemic and corruption
The second part of the big poll conducted by Noverna for ‘Politis’.
- Informal conference for Cyprus problem: Make or break for the UN
- Ankara’s rage: Deep rift in US-Turkey relations
- 5,216 cases in a week: Home again with vaccination the only hope
In search of common ground
Just before the trip to Geneva, N. Anastasiades talks to ‘Ph’ about his aim in the Five-party. The UN have prepared three days of intensive deliberations.
- Erdogan’s blackmail attempts didn’t work
- Cyprus enters the third total lockdown today
- Green passports coming to the EU and… Cyprus
Eyes focused on Geneva with restrained expectations
Concern over the stance to be held by the Turkish and TC side.
- We want a federation
- Ankara asking for ‘explanations’ from the USA for the recognition of the genocide
- Cyprus in its third total lockdown today
In Geneva without many hopes
Five-party: The Holy Week of the Cyprus problem begins. The position of the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot sides in favour of two states, does not leave room for optimism for a positive outcome at the five-party. President Anastasiades is transporting processed ideas and proposals for all scenarios that may possibly play out. Dendias: Margins of optimism for five-party narrow.
- Recognition of genocide: Relations between USA and Turkey becoming difficult
- Cyprus in third lockdown
Main News
Anastasiades departs for Geneva, says goal is to keep Cyprob on BBF track
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Ahead of his departure on Monday for the informal five-party summit kicking off in Geneva on Tuesday, President Nicos Anastasiades said his central aim is to keep the Cyprus problem on the track of a bi-zonal, bicommunal federation (BBF).
In an interview with Phileleftheros, Anastasiades said the groundwork has been laid and what remains to be seen in Geneva is what each side’s intentions are. He said he will exert efforts to find common ground that will allow a creative dialogue to follow and lead toward a solution based on UN resolutions. Regarding the EU, Anastasiades said it will not be present in the way it sought to be, a dissatisfying development for the GC side, but stressed that EU presence is guaranteed for the stages to follow.
Anastasiades said public statements being issued by the Turkish side do not leave much room for high expectations, but said that if Turkey remains firm in these positions in Geneva it will only serve to put itself in a difficult position, since the GC side is consistent in all it has until today declared and with what the UN Secretary General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres is asking of participants in order to achieve a positive outcome. He added that the GC side will not pursue anything more or less than what Guterres described in the six points of his Framework presented in Crans-Montana, stressing that the GC side will not deviate from the known solution parameters.
Alithia reports on comments issued by Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, who said Greece and Cyprus are absolutely coordinated, and said that despite his desire to see common ground be found in Geneva and talks resume from where they left off in Crans-Montana, the positions being put forward by Turkey and the TC leadership leave little room for optimism. These positions, Dendias said, are completely outside the framework through which a constructive dialogue can take place and are outside the only legal framework accepted by the international community.
Politis reports that the representations of five parties taking part in the informal summit being held under the auspices of the UN are set to depart for Geneva on Monday. The paper reports that the GC representation in Geneva will not feature the entirety of the negotiating team, since the informal summit will not involve in-depth negotiations. As such, only certain members of the negotiating team, namely the chief negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis, as well as Ioannis Kasoulidis, Panayiotis Demetriou, Toumazos Tselepis and Tasos Tzionis will be accompanying Anastasiades.
Alithia reports that Tatar will be flying to Anakara for a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan before travelling to Geneva. The paper reports that in another show of intransigence, Tatar said that in Geneva the TC side and Turkey will discuss their new policy, pointing to two states based on sovereign equality. Tatar said this is the only realistic path for a solution.
Alithia reports on announcements issued by political parties ahead of the informal summit. AKEL said the GC side’s aim must be the resumption of substantive talks, and if this proves unfeasible, then Anastasiades should ensure that responsibility lies only with the Turkish side. DIKO leader Nicholas Papadopoulos said expectations for a positive outcome are limited or even non-existent, and only concerns for a further diversion of the Cyprus problem are justified. Solidarity leader Eleni Theocharous said the outcome of the summit will not be positive at all, noting that DISY’s and AKEL’s much-desired BBF will not even be up for discussion.
Politis reports that the UN are keeping expectations low, with the paper citing a UN source that said the international organisation is doing its best to bridge the chasm between the two sides and are calling on all parties to show determination and flexibility. The UN source said Guterres himself will offer ideas, but will not strive to bridge the gap between sides, since the UN believes that this is up to the sides themselves.
Politis reports that the message being conveyed by the UN is that for a positive outcome in Geneva, all sides – but especially the GC and TC sides – must not only state what they are unwilling to accept, but must also make mutual compromises. The paper reports that the UN source said that Guterres will not solely act as an active audience member, but will seek clear opinions and positions from all participating parties.
The dailies report that the summit’s programme as it currently stands foresees separate meetings between Guterres and the island’s two leaders on Tuesday, followed by a reception to be attended by the heads and two more members of the representations of each party. Wednesday morning will feature a joint meeting among all parties (head plus five members of each representation). Later on in the day, Guterres will hold separate meetings with all five representations, before all parties come together again for a dinner. On Thursday, the summit’s final day, Guterres will hold separate meetings with Anastasiades and Tatar, to be followed by trilateral deliberations between Guterres and both leaders. All parties will come together again for a joint meeting at noon on Thursday.
Politis reports that UN sources believe that there is a general understanding the that a statement will likely be issued after the summit, but not necessarily. The paper adds that in the event of a positive outcome, the summit may be extended an additional day.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> Central aim at 5+1 is to keep Cyprob on BBF track
>> Will exert efforts to find common ground that will allow a creative dialogue to follow and lead toward a solution based on UN resolutions
>> Public statements being issued by Turkish side leave expectations low, but Turkey will only make its life more difficult if it remains firm in its positions
>> GC side is consistent in all it has until today declared and with what the UNSG is asking of participants in order to achieve a positive outcome
>> GC side will remain consistent with Guterres Framework, will not deviate from UN solution parameters
Dendias (Greece)
>> Greece and Cyprus are absolutely coordinated
>> Wants to see common ground be found in Geneva and talks resume from where they left off in Crans-Montana
>> Positions of Turkey & TC side completely outside the framework through which a constructive dialogue can take place and are outside the only legal framework accepted by the international community
Tatar
>> In Geneva the TC side and Turkey will discuss new policy of two states based on sovereign equality, which is the only realistic path for a solution
AKEL
>> GC side’s aim must be the resumption of substantive talks
>> In the event of impasse, Anastasiades should ensure that responsibility lies only with the Turkish side
Papadopoulos (DIKO)
>> Expectations for a positive outcome are limited or even non-existent
>> Only concerns for a further diversion of the Cyprus problem at 5+1 are justified
Theocharous (Solidarity)
>> 5+1 outcome will be negative
>> DISY’s and AKEL’s much-desired BBF will not even be up for discussion