ELAM opposes Turkish Cypriot official's invitation to Cyprus Forum 2026

The political party ELAM has expressed strong opposition to the invitation of a Turkish Cypriot official to the upcoming Cyprus Forum 2026 in Nicosia. ELAM MP Andreas Papacharalambous and the party leadership have officially requested that organizers retract the invitation, specifically challenging the official's designation in the event agenda as the "mayor of the Turkish municipality of Nicosia." The party argues that granting such recognition to representatives of the unrecognized northern entity is unacceptable.

The controversy centers on a panel titled "Peace and Democracy Award," with ELAM demanding clarification on whether the official is scheduled to receive an award during the event. The party has questioned why high-ranking officials from the Republic of Cyprus, including the President, the President of the House of Representatives, and various political parties, are participating alongside a figure representing the occupied territories. ELAM confirmed it had been invited to the forum but refused to attend in protest.

This incident follows recent diplomatic tensions, including calls from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the UN General Assembly for the international recognition of the unrecognized state. ELAM maintains that the Cyprus issue should be addressed strictly as a problem of invasion and occupation, advocating for increased pressure on Turkey via the European Union rather than participating in forums that they believe legitimize the status quo.