The invitation extended to President Nikos Christodoulides to attend the COP31 climate summit in Antalya came from the conference secretariat rather than Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to a report by Turkish newspaper Milliyet.
In a front-page article, Milliyet says the invitation process became an issue after Erdogan decided not to receive Christodoulides at the opening of the Leaders' Summit.
According to the newspaper, invitations and official registration were handled by the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), headed by Simon Stiell.
By contrast, Tufan Erhurman and the Turkish Cypriot leader's so-called prime minister, Unal Ustel, travelled to Antalya following personal invitations bearing Erdogan's signature, the report says.
EU diplomatic intervention led to invitations
Milliyet refers to a report published by Greek newspaper Kathimerini on 11 October, which said Erdogan had sent invitations to the leaders of 26 EU member states, excluding Christodoulides.
According to the Turkish newspaper, the Cypriot side raised the matter at the EU's Committee of Permanent Representatives, pointing out that it had not received an official invitation from Turkey.
Following diplomatic contacts between European institutions and Ankara, a new invitation process began on 9 October, Milliyet reports. As part of this process, the COP31 organisers sent invitations to all 27 EU member states through Brussels.
The newspaper comments that this arrangement secured Christodoulides's participation through an international organisation while allowing Ankara to maintain its diplomatic stance towards the Republic of Cyprus.
Different receptions for Christodoulides and Erhurman
Milliyet also refers to reactions in the Cypriot press, quoting the Politis headline: "A War of Symbols in Antalya".
According to the report, Erhurman was welcomed at the airport by senior diplomats and received at the summit by Erdogan himself. Christodoulides, meanwhile, was met at the airport by officials from the Turkish Foreign Ministry's protocol service.
The newspaper further claims that Erdogan left the reception area when the Cypriot President entered.
It also reports that members of the Turkish delegation removed their simultaneous interpretation headsets when Christodoulides began his speech.
Source: CNA
