The President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, head of the Cypriot diplomatic mission, will depart this Tuesday afternoon for Antalya, Turkey, via Rhodes, to participate in the Leaders’ Summit of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), which is taking place on November 11 and 12.
COP31 began on Monday, November 9, and will conclude on November 20, with a focus on strengthening international action to address climate change, implementing the Paris Agreement, and adapting to the impacts of the climate crisis.
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As part of the Leaders’ Summit, heads of state and government are expected to present their national positions and commitments on climate action, while the agenda includes discussions on the energy transition, climate finance, and building resilience to the impacts of climate change.
The President of the Republic’s participation in the Conference holds particular diplomatic significance, as, according to a government source who spoke to KYPE, the Republic of Cyprus secured an official invitation following systematic and coordinated diplomatic efforts by Nicosia, with the active involvement of European institutions and EU member states.
The same source had emphasized that the coordinated pressure from the EU was of particular importance, based on the shared position that a member state’s full and equal participation in international processes cannot be called into question or subject to unilateral restrictions.
The issue had arisen following a report in the newspaper *Kathimerini* on Sunday, according to which Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, had sent personal invitations to the leaders of the other 26 EU member states for the COP31 Leaders’ Summit, attempting, according to the report, to exclude the Republic of Cyprus and its President.
SEE ALSO: Presidents of the Republic of Cyprus Who Have Visited Turkey | AlphaNews
Source: CNA
