Turkey blocks Republic of Cyprus from climate change conference

On March 27, Turkey, acting as the organizer of a preparatory meeting for the UN climate conference (COP31), excluded the Republic of Cyprus from the event. The meeting was chaired by the Turkish Minister of Environment and Urbanization, Murat Kurum. During a subsequent UN meeting dedicated to Zero Waste Day, the European Union formally condemned this exclusion on behalf of its member states. The EU cited the principles of sovereign equality and inclusive participation for all UN members. In response, Turkey defended its decision, citing its long-standing policy of not recognizing the Republic of Cyprus. The Turkish representative argued that the COP31 preparatory meeting was not under a formal UN mandate, thus granting the host discretion over invitations. Turkey further criticized the EU for its lack of impartiality regarding the Cyprus issue since the island's accession to the union.