ELAM opposes invitation of Turkish Cypriot official to Cyprus Forum 2026

The political party ELAM has publicly demanded the retraction of an invitation extended to Mehmet Harmanci for the upcoming Cyprus Forum 2026, scheduled to take place in Nicosia. ELAM parliamentarian Andreas Papacharalambous expressed strong condemnation regarding the official agenda, which identifies Harmanci with the title of 'Mayor of the Turkish Municipality of Nicosia.

Papacharalambous questioned the legitimacy of such a designation and voiced indignation over the guest's scheduled participation in a session titled 'Peace and Democracy Award.' The party is demanding answers from event organizers regarding the formal recognition of this title. The controversy is heightened by the scheduled attendance of high-level Republic of Cyprus officials, including the President and the President of the House of Representatives, alongside representatives from various political parties such as DISY, AKEL, and DIKO.

This incident highlights the ongoing sensitivity and political tension surrounding the status of occupied territories and the participation of Turkish Cypriot representatives in major public forums held within the Republic of Cyprus. As of now, the organizers have not publicly responded to the demand to retract the invitation.