Cyprus Forum faces backlash over title dispute involving Turkish Cypriot official

On September 29, 2026, the Cyprus Forum in Nicosia faced significant internal disruption following a controversy over the formal designation of Mehmet Harmanci, the representative of the Turkish Cypriot community of Nicosia. Organisers initially listed Harmanci in the event programme as the "Mayor of Nicosia Turkish Municipality," a title that prompted immediate political objections from the far-right ELAM party, which demanded the withdrawal of his invitation.

While the Forum rejected the demand to exclude Harmanci, organisers unilaterally altered his title to "Leader of the Turkish Cypriot community of Nicosia." Harmanci subsequently withdrew from the event, stating that the issue was not the revised title itself, but rather the perception that the organizers had succumbed to political pressure. Following this, the Greek Cypriot Mayor of Nicosia, Charalambos Prountzos, withdrew his participation in solidarity with the sequence of events. Nicolas Kyriakides, the executive president of the Cyprus Forum, publicly apologised on Tuesday, acknowledging a failure in coordination and the resulting negative impact on the event's proceedings.

This incident follows prior joint appearances by Harmanci and Prountzos where the modified title had been used without controversy. The organisers have committed to addressing the fallout, although the event continues amid these high-profile withdrawals.