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Nicosia mayors withdrawal from Cyprus Forum

Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-25 09:11 UTC → 2026-09-27 01:54 UTC · added removed

A dispute over official titles led to the withdrawal of Nicosia’s mayors from the Cyprus Forum 2026. The conflict began when Mehmet Harmancı, Mayor of the Nicosia Turkish Municipality, was listed with that title for a session involving the ‘Peace and Democracy Award’. The Greek Cypriot political party ELAM protested the designation, questioning the municipality’s existence. Forum organizers attempted to resolve the tension by updating Harmancı’s title to ‘Leader of the Turkish Community of Nicosia’ following consultations with Republic of Cyprus officials. Harmancı rejected this change, describing the situation as ‘racist and separatist propaganda, manipulation, and political intimidation’, and subsequently withdrew from the event. Following Harmancı’s departure, the Mayor of Nicosia, Charalambos Prountzos, also withdrew in a show of solidarity. The Cyprus Forum announced that it respects both decisions but intends to proceed with the Peace and Democracy Award, presenting the honors to representatives of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot recipients. Additional Turkish Cypriot leaders have since reacted to the dispute. leaders, including Zeki Çeler, leader Çeler of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), characterized (TDP) and Fikri Toros of the proposed CTP, criticized the title change as an interference with the ‘institutional will of the Turkish Cypriot community’. Furthermore, Mustafa Özbilgehan, President The dispute has since evolved into a broader constitutional debate. Charalambos Prountzos has highlighted the legal framework of the 1960 Constitution, specifically Article 173, which provided for separate Turkish Cypriot Youth Federation, also withdrew his planned participation, labeling the situation a ‘scandal’ and asserting Greek municipalities in the island's five major cities. Observers note that peace cannot be achieved by yielding the Greek Cypriot administration’s scrutiny of the title is viewed as an effort to political pressure. avoid actions that could provide a basis for recognizing TRNC institutions without formal diplomatic recognition.

Versions

  1. 2026-09-27 01:54 UTC Nicosia mayors withdrawal from Cyprus Forum
  2. 2026-09-25 09:11 UTC Nicosia mayors withdrawal from Cyprus Forum
  3. 2026-09-25 07:31 UTC Nicosia mayors withdrawal from Cyprus Forum

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