11.11.2026 14:32
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan did not welcome Nikos Christodoulides, the leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus, who attended the COP31 Leaders Summit held in Antalya. Christodoulides, who has recently been working with Netanyahu, was kept waiting at the door for Erdoğan to leave the welcome point, while the Turkish flag was projected on screens. Reacting to what happened, the Greek Cypriot leader complained about the situation to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
A striking diplomatic development took place at the COP31 Leaders Summit held in Antalya. While President Erdoğan was welcoming the world leaders attending the summit one by one, he left the reception area during the arrival of Nikos Christodoulides, the leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus.
TURKISH FLAG PROJECTED ON SCREENS
Christodoulides was kept waiting at the door for a while for Erdoğan to leave the welcoming point. Meanwhile, the Turkish flag was projected on the screens in the summit area. After Erdoğan left the area, Christodoulides was welcomed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. After the Greek Cypriot leader left the reception area, Erdoğan continued welcoming the other country leaders.
HE COMPLAINED ABOUT ERDOĞAN TO VON DER LEYEN
Following the events, Christodoulides met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and expressed his discomfort at Erdoğan not welcoming him. It also drew attention that the Greek Cypriot leader complained to von der Leyen about what happened at the summit.