Antalya Correspondent: Filip Polo
President Nikos Christodoulides held a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the sidelines of COP31 in Antalya, with discussions focusing on the Cyprus issue, EU-Turkey relations and Cyprus' accession to the Schengen Area.
The meeting was also attended by Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos and the president's special envoy for the Cyprus issue in Asia and Africa, Nikos Tornaritis.
Particular attention was drawn to the presence of the Republic of Cyprus flag at the meeting venue.
As COP31 is a United Nations event, responsibility for the official configuration and signage of meeting areas lies with the UN. The Cypriot flag was therefore displayed as part of the standard institutional representation of participating member states.
According to the report, its presence reflected the participation of the Republic of Cyprus in the summit as a UN member state and was not linked to any special arrangement by the Turkish authorities.
Christodoulides is scheduled to address heads of state and government participating in the COP31 Leaders' Summit later on Wednesday.
He is expected to highlight the European Union's position on strengthening global climate ambition, implementing the Paris Agreement and accelerating international climate commitments.
The president is also expected to refer to Cyprus' regional climate initiative for the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, as well as seven initiatives promoted during Cyprus' Presidency of the Council of the EU.
Following the conclusion of his meetings in Antalya, Christodoulides will travel to Dublin to participate in the European Political Community Summit on November 12.
Discussions are expected to focus on security, stability and cooperation across Europe, with the Cypriot president set to participate in a session on security and defending a democratic Europe.
He will then attend the informal European Council summit on November 13.
