Turkey Excludes Cyprus From COP31 Preparations Over Non-Recognition of Greek Cypriot Administration

The European Union rebuked Turkey on Thursday for excluding Cyprus from preparations for the COP31 U.N. climate summit that Turkey will host in November. At a meeting of EU climate ministers in Luxembourg, Cyprus said it had not been invited by Turkey to two preparatory meetings held in New York and Tokyo.

Turkish officials confirmed to Reuters that Cyprus had not been invited to COP31-related events organized by Turkey. EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said EU countries had agreed "that we're not going to accept" Turkey's behaviour. He added that he had communicated to the U.N.

And Turkey's EU embassy that excluding Cyprus was "unacceptable". "There are 27 member states that need to be treated in the same way... this is a Union of 27, full stop," Hoekstra said. Turkey does not recognize the Greek Cypriot government in the south of Cyprus and is the only government in the world to recognize the breakaway Turkish Cypriot administration in the north.

Cyprus currently holds the EU's rotating presidency until Ireland takes over the role next month. Cyprus is concerned it will be excluded from the part of COP31 attended by world leaders, which Turkey would organize as host. Poland's deputy climate minister Krzysztof Bolesta said, "If Cyprus is unfairly treated...

Irish climate minister Darragh O'Brien said, "Full solidarity with Cyprus. " Australia will run the U.N. negotiations that form the centerpiece of COP31.