Turkey Blocks Cyprus From COP31 Climate Talks It’s Hosting
Turkey is using its role as host of this year's UN climate summit to freeze Cyprus out of preparatory meetings, five European diplomats and officials told Politico. Cyprus, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council, has been excluded from informal COP31 briefings and has had every bilateral meeting request with Turkey rejected.
The situation came to a head in March when the Turkish COP31 presidency failed to invite Cyprus to a briefing at UN headquarters in New York, then objected when Cypriot officials arrived alongside the EU delegation. Three diplomats confirmed to Politico the incident was not a one-off.
"The exclusion is unacceptable" — Cypriot official, noting Turkey is obligated to invite all UN member states to COP31.
Cyprus holds the EU Council presidency until July, meaning it is supposed to act as a neutral representative for all 27 EU member states in international forums. Turkey's refusal to engage with Nicosia in that capacity has created a significant diplomatic problem for Brussels ahead of the November summit in Antalya.
A Cypriot official said the exclusion is "unacceptable" and that Turkey, as COP31 host, is obligated to invite all UN member states, including Cyprus. The European Commission has already expressed its displeasure to Ankara, and EU climate chief Wopke Hoekstra raised the issue directly with Turkish officials last month.
Turkey does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus and instead recognizes only the breakaway Turkish Cypriot north, making it the only country in the world to do so. Turkey has maintained this position since its 1974 invasion of the island.
Turkey defended excluding Cyprus from the March meeting by arguing it "was not mandated by the U.N. and therefore it was at the discretion of the organiser to issue invitations." The Turkish COP31 presidency did not respond to Politico's request for comment.
Some European diplomats expressed relief that Ireland takes over the EU presidency in July, meaning Dublin rather than Nicosia will represent the bloc when COP31 formally opens in Antalya in November.
