Lefkoşa Turkish Municipality Mayor Mehmet Harmancı has withdrawn from next week’s Cyprus Forum after organisers changed his title on the programme following objections from far-right Greek Cypriot party ELAM.
Harmancı had been listed as “Mayor of Nicosia Turkish Municipality”, a title the forum itself used when he appeared alongside south Lefkoşa mayor Charalambos Prountzos in 2024. ELAM challenged the existence of the Turkish Cypriot municipality and called for Harmancı’s invitation to be withdrawn.
The organisers said that, after consulting officials from the Greek Cypriot-administered Republic of Cyprus, they changed his title to “Leader of the Turkish Cypriot community of Nicosia”. Harmancı rejected the change and pulled out of the event, which runs from 28 to 30 September. He said allowing ELAM’s objections to produce a result that discriminated against Turkish Cypriots set a dangerous example, adding: “Peace cannot be built on fear.”
Turkish Cypriot Youth Federation president Mustafa Özbilgehan has also said he will not attend. Engin Deniz Görgüner, head of the Liberal Democracy Movement, withdrew as a speaker, saying respect for Turkish Cypriots’ elected representatives and institutions was a basic condition for political equality and genuine dialogue.
Cyprus Forum describes itself as an independent annual conference intended to bring people together for dialogue on public policy. Its organisers said Turkish Cypriots account for around five per cent of this year’s 222 speakers.
