President Christodoulides arrives in Antalya for COP31 summit amid Cyprus issue developments

President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides arrived in Antalya, Turkey, on Tuesday evening to participate in the UN Climate Change Conference (COP31). The President, who traveled via Rhodes and was received by Turkish protocol officials, is scheduled to address global leaders on Wednesday to present Cyprus's climate policies. He is also expected to hold a bilateral meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the sidelines of the event.

The visit coincides with intense diplomatic activity regarding the Cyprus issue. Earlier on Tuesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres held a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Antalya, where they discussed regional developments, including Cyprus. Following this, Guterres conducted a telephone call with President Christodoulides to debrief him on the discussion and review the outcomes of a trilateral meeting held in Nicosia the previous day. Guterres characterized the results of the Nicosia meeting as "substantial.

Diplomatic efforts are now focused on scheduling a new tripartite meeting under the auspices of the UN, ideally by the end of November and likely in Europe. While no meeting between President Christodoulides and the Turkish leadership has been scheduled for this trip, officials noted that such international forums often provide opportunities for informal bilateral contacts. Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot leader Unal Ustel is also expected to attend the summit at the invitation of President Erdogan.