The Republic of Cyprus has been invited to take part in the UN Climate Change Conference (COP31), which will be held in Antalya, Turkey, in November, a government source told CNA. The source was commenting on a report in Sunday’s edition of Kathimerini, according to which Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had attempted to exclude President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides from the conference.
Invitation follows coordinated diplomatic efforts
According to the same source, the invitation was issued following systematic and coordinated diplomatic efforts by the Republic of Cyprus, involving European institutions and EU member states.
The source said that the clear and coordinated pressure exerted by the European Union was of particular importance and played a pivotal role in the developments.
EU position on member state participation
The government source told CNA that European support had been substantial and solid.
It said this support was based on the consistent shared position that the full and equal participation of an EU member state in international fora cannot be called into question or subjected to unilateral restrictions.
Report on leaders’ invitations
According to Kathimerini’s report, Erdoğan sent personal letters inviting the heads of government of only 26 EU member states to the conference’s leaders’ meeting, scheduled for 11 and 12 November.
Turkey’s non-recognition of the Republic of Cyprus
Turkey, which illegally invaded the island in 1974, does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus, an EU member state since 2004. It is the only country to recognise the regime in the north as a “state”.
Source: CNA
