Antalya:Nicosia The Republic of Cyprus has been invited to participate in the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Turkey, scheduled for November. This invitation follows significant diplomatic efforts by Cyprus and intervention from the European Union, as reported by the Cyprus News Agency.

According to Cyprus News Agency, the invitation came after coordinated efforts by the Republic of Cyprus, involving various European institutions and EU member states. The European Union's pressure was crucial in ensuring the invitation, emphasizing the principle that every EU member state should fully and equally participate in international forums without facing unilateral restrictions.

A government source highlighted the substantial and unwavering support from the EU, underscoring the shared position that an EU member state's participation in international events cannot be questioned. This development comes after reports that Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan initially attempted to exclude Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides from the conference.

Reports from Kathimerini indicate that President Erdogan had originally sent invitations to the leaders of only 26 EU member states for the conference scheduled for November 11-12. Despite the tensions, Cyprus has secured its place at the conference, reinforcing its status as an EU member state since 2004, even as Turkey continues to recognize only the Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus as a legitimate state, a status not acknowledged by any other country.