Managing Intractable Conflicts: Lessons from Moldova and Cyprus

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The Role of Mass Media in the Settlement of the Cyprus Problem 41 and misinterpreted, since it is not easy to access information that can verify, or challenge the validity of a news report. With these, it is demonstrated that the Freedom of expression is not fully guaranteed in Cyprus (Simopoulos, 2012) because its scope does not empower and protect journalists from the abovementioned cases, thus affecting the coverage and media strategy-building on the Cyprus problem. As extreme examples, in the past, journalists and newspapers in the north had been receiving harassment and unfavorable treatment by both the establishment and entities associated with the establishment (EFJ, 2011; Hasturer, 2004). Cooperation Obstacles Due to Non-Recognition Historically, due to the climate of animosity and mistrust, there has been minimal cooperation between journalists and media outlets from both sides, resulting in a lack of coordination and mutual understanding. For instance, there currently exists no intercommunal news agency or established sustainable structure for media professionals from each community to exchange information and produce joint content – instead, initiatives for this level of collaboration rely on CSOs and individual professionals. Consequently, there is an overreliance on news provided by agencies both local and international (Christophorou et al., 2010). Due, in part, to the insistent and explicit statements by authorities on both sides, rejecting the claims of the other, there is the fear that even unofficial contact by journalist unions, news agencies, media outlets, and individual journalists may imply a recognition or endorsement of the other side’s views. Of course, this worry is fundamentally flawed: As long as the administrative structures of either side of the island do not recognize each other (and in the case for the Republic of Cyprus, it is a state recognized by the UN and supported by memberships to the EU and other international organizations), then unofficial or official meetings, or institutions from both sides participating (even with “official capacity”) in international meetings, neither implies recognition, nor does it cancel out or alter the official stance of the authorities of non-recognition of the other side (Brownlie, 2008). This fear of “implied” recognition (and the concern of being labeled as a “traitor”, a foreign “agent”, or a “collaborator”), has developed obstacles on basic issues, such as how to address and acknowledge the other side: journalists have employed a terminology when referring to the other side (e.g. “pseudo-state”; the “Greek Cypriot Administration” etc.) that is plainly offensive for the other side.
42 Managing Intractable Conflicts: Lessons from Moldova and Cyprus Furthermore, journalists have problems attending events on the other side when there is a requirement to involve/cooperate with an authority (and thus may imply recognition) (Constantinou & Papadakis, 2001). The Barriers of Language and Information Historically, the Cyprus media landscape has always exemplified a high degree of exclusivity to its respective language community. Media outlets communicate to their audience in two different languages, Greek and Turkish. Thus, it is difficult for journalists from the opposite side of the dividing line to follow the news on the other side (due to the language barriers) and to have a clear picture of the prevailing opinions on the other side of the dividing line. Often times news from the “other side” are purposefully screened out and not mentioned at all, according to the particular outlet’s interests. Moreover, the miscommunication and lack of cooperation can result in certain extreme cases where e.g. writings of a newspaper on one side of the island are incorrectly translated in an outlet on the opposite side, or e.g. cases of selective translation and even distortion (in fewer cases) in order to serve the particular outlet’s purpose, (e.g. the “demonization” of the other side). As a result, it is an unfortunate fact that the public’s general opinion and view on the matters (and on the other side) can be rather different from the general opinion of the other side; even when it comes to basic facts and events. Mass Media: Part of the Solution, or Part of the Problem In various studies (Droushiotis, 2005; Christophorou et al., 2010; Djambazis et al., 2009) the media sector has received a lot of criticism and has been described as a contributing factor in the conflict (Simopoulos, 2012; Azgin, 1996). The media’s ability to shape public opinion has come under close scrutiny in the past, particularly during crucial periods of Cyprus’ recent history (Droushiotis, 2005). The media polarization further contributes to the lack of understanding and acceptance between the two communities. Even with an acknowledged improvement in recent years, there is an unbalanced coverage in the mainstream media of issues of common concern to both communities. There has been an excessive emphasis on the hardships and obstacles to a settlement by the media, and almost no mention of any prospects for a solution. In fact, the media contradicts itself by, on the one hand, stressing the negative aspects of a settlement while at the same time repeating the need for a settlement. As a result, often the
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Challenges to Keeping the Negotiati
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