Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides confirmed on October 13 that he will attend the COP31 climate summit in Antalya next month, ending months of uncertainty over whether Türkiye would include Cyprus at the conference it is co-hosting. The COP31 Cyprus attendance question was settled a day later on the other side of the island’s divide as well, when Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman confirmed his own invitation to the summit. The announcements make Antalya one of the rare international stages where both Cypriot leaders will be present.
FAKTA
- President Nikos Christodoulides confirmed on October 13 that he will attend COP31 in Antalya (November 9–20) — the first visit by a Cypriot president to Türkiye in a decade — even though Ankara does not recognize his government
- Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman confirmed on October 14 that he had been invited by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and will travel to Antalya
- Christodoulides credited “the decisive contribution of our partners” and diplomatic efforts “conducted away from the public eye”, and said the invitation “sends messages regarding the Cyprus problem”
- The confirmation follows months of controversy: Politico reported Turkey left Cyprus off a COP31 briefing in New York, and in June Cyprus feared only 26 of the EU’s 27 member states would be invited; EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said excluding Cyprus was unacceptable
- A leaders’ summit is scheduled for November 11–12 in Antalya; Türkiye co-hosts with Australia — Environment Minister Murat Kurum chairs the summit and Australia’s Chris Bowen leads the negotiations
COP31 Cyprus attendance: how the invitation was secured
“Of course I will attend. The Republic of Cyprus always attends these summits,” Christodoulides said on Tuesday, according to the Cyprus Mail. He expressed satisfaction at the outcome, attributing it to the decisive contribution of Cyprus’s partners and to diplomatic and political work undertaken outside public view. He emphasized that those efforts had proceeded without publicity or fanfare, and said the invitation carried messages concerning the Cyprus problem.
Asked about the possibility of unwelcome surprises at the summit, Christodoulides said preparations covered every eventuality and that such developments could not be ruled out. He added that the Republic of Cyprus would also respond if needed, noting its membership of the European Union, which comprises 27 member states.
Erhurman: invited by Erdogan, diplomacy is “always beneficial”
On Wednesday, Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman confirmed that he too would be in Antalya. He said the invitation came from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and confirmed that he would travel to the summit. Erhurman added that media reports had informed him of Christodoulides’ announcement, and reiterated his view that dialogue and diplomacy are always beneficial.
The double confirmation sets up an unusual diplomatic scene: the leaders of both sides of the divided island will be in the same Turkish Mediterranean city during the 12-day climate conference.
The backstory: a year of invitation disputes
The attendance confirmations close a controversy that has run all year. In March, Cyprus was reportedly not invited to a COP31 briefing at UN headquarters in New York, and Politico quoted diplomats saying Turkey had objected when Cypriot officials tried to attend alongside the EU delegation. In April the EU expressed serious concern after Cyprus was reportedly denied a place at a COP31 meeting chaired by Turkish environment minister Murat Kurum.
In June, Cyprus expressed concern that Ankara intended to invite only 26 of the EU’s 27 member states to the summit. EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said excluding Cyprus would be unacceptable and insisted that all member states receive equal treatment. Turkish diplomatic sources subsequently told Reuters that Cypriot delegations had been invited to all COP31 events coordinated by the UN — distinguishing those from the disputed New York briefing, which Turkey said it had organized independently. On October 11, the Cyprus News Agency reported, citing a government source, that the Republic of Cyprus had received its invitation letter following “systematic and coordinated” diplomatic action backed by European institutions.
Road to Antalya: the Cyprus row timeline
| When | Development |
|---|---|
| March 2026 | Cyprus reportedly not invited to COP31 briefing at UN headquarters in New York |
| June 2026 | Concern over only 26 of 27 EU states being invited; EU commissioner Hoekstra says excluding Cyprus is unacceptable |
| October 11, 2026 | Cyprus News Agency reports Cyprus received its invitation letter |
| October 13, 2026 | Christodoulides confirms he will attend COP31 in Antalya |
| October 14, 2026 | Erhurman confirms his invitation from President Erdogan |
| November 9–20, 2026 | COP31 in Antalya; leaders’ summit on November 11–12 |
Follow the road to Antalya at watannews.dk: our report on the Pacific’s pre-COP31 mandate and the presidency-led decision push for the summit.
Conclusion
With both Christodoulides and Erhurman now confirmed for Antalya, the COP31 attendance saga has ended in a result both Nicosia and the EU can present as a win: full Cypriot participation under the UN process. Whether the shared summit produces any thaw in the deeper Cyprus dispute is another question — but for two weeks in November, climate diplomacy will put both leaders in the same room.
