United Nations clarifies stance on Cyprus following meeting in Turkey

UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo met with Tufan Erhurman on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum. The meeting drew criticism in Nicosia after photographs surfaced showing the flag of the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus positioned next to the UN flag. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated that the photograph reflected the existing room setup and did not signal any change in the UN's position on the Cyprus issue. He emphasized that the UN remains guided by Security Council resolutions and supports a comprehensive settlement within the established framework. The Nicosia government has lodged formal protests in both New York and Cyprus, calling the display of the flag a violation of UN resolutions. Local political parties, including DIKO, described the incident as unacceptable and warned against the potential for implied recognition of the northern entity. Erhurman described the meeting as productive, noting that the discussion focused on confidence-building measures and the latest developments in the Cyprus issue.