President Nikos Christodoulides will depart on Tuesday afternoon, via Rhodes, for Antalya, where he will lead the Cypriot delegation at the Leaders' Summit of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) on 11 and 12 November.
The conference began on 9 November and will run until 20 November, focusing on strengthening international climate action, implementing the Paris Agreement and adapting to the impacts of the climate crisis.
During the Leaders' Summit, heads of state and government are expected to outline their countries' climate commitments and policy priorities. Discussions will also cover the energy transition, climate finance and measures to strengthen resilience to climate change.
Diplomatic significance
Christodoulides' participation carries particular diplomatic significance.
According to a government source quoted by the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), the Republic of Cyprus secured an official invitation following sustained diplomatic efforts by Nicosia, supported by coordinated action from European Union institutions and member states.
The same source said EU member states adopted a common position that the full and equal participation of an EU member state in international processes cannot be questioned or subjected to unilateral restrictions.
The issue arose after a report by Greek newspaper Kathimerini tis Kyriakis, which claimed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had sent personal invitations to the leaders of the other 26 EU member states for the COP31 Leaders' Summit while seeking to exclude the Republic of Cyprus and President Christodoulides.
Source: CNA
