Turkey, as chair of the United Nations‘ annual climate change conference (COP31), has refused the participation of the Republic of Cyprus in the conference, which took place at the international body’s headquarters on March 27, reports AP-MPA.

The Republic of Cyprus was denied a seat in the room of the meeting, which was chaired by Turkey’s Environment and Urban Planning Minister Murat Kurum.

The EU condemned the Republic of Cyprus’ exclusion from a subsequent UN meeting to commemorate World Zero Waste Day.

Representing also its member states, it expressed “serious concern” about this event and recalled that “all UN member states enjoy equal recognition and participation in UN processes in accordance with the principle of sovereign equality and the spirit of full inclusion” that governs the UN.

In response, Turkey defended its stance, citing its longstanding policy of non-recognition of the Republic of Cyprus.

Turkey’s spokeswoman “regretted the EU’s off-topic stance,” stressing that “over time the EU has failed to maintain a balanced stance on the Cyprus issue since the Greek Cypriots’ entry [into the Union], despite the Greek Cypriots’ overwhelming rejection of the UN’s comprehensive settlement plan [i.e. Annan plan].”

He recalled that the meeting on COP31 “was not subject to a UN mandate and therefore it was at the discretion of the organizer to circulate invitations. All member states recognized by Turkey were invited and we thank them for their participation.”