Nicosia Mayor Charalambos Prountzos and Turkish Cypriot ‘mayor’ of the occupied northern capital Mehmet Harmancı have both pulled out of the upcoming Cyprus Forum following a row over Harmancı’s official title in the event, which was triggered by the far-right ELAM party and forced organisers to issue a public apology.
The controversy erupted after ELAM protested against what the organisers said was a non-final versions of the event’s agenda published on the conference website that listed Harmancı as “Mayor of Nicosia Turkish Municipality”.
Under international law and the legal framework of the Republic of Cyprus, authorities in the occupied north are not officially recognised, meaning state titles like “mayor” cannot be formally conferred without qualification or quotation marks—even though Turkish Cypriots trace the municipal body back to the separate municipal provisions of the 1960 Constitution.
Responding to objections that the wording granted political legitimacy to an unrecognised administration, organisers altered Harmancı’s designation on the programme to match terminology used during recent direct meetings between the two men, listing him as “Leader of the Turkish Cypriot community of Nicosia”.
The change prompted Harmancı to submit a letter withdrawing from the event, after which Prountzos stepped down “as a sign of solidarity”.
The Cyprus Forum, a flagship annual independent non-profit conference designed to promote public policy reform and cross-community dialogue, issued a statement expressing regret over the outcome.
Organisers said they “understand and respect the decision of both” leaders and apologised for inadvertently harming cross-community ties, while reiterating that their platform remains open to facilitate discussion on difficult political issues.
Despite the withdrawals, organisers confirmed that the Peace and Democracy Award will be presented for a third consecutive year to honour one Greek Cypriot and one Turkish Cypriot posthumously, with awards handed directly to representatives of the recipients.
The conference is set to proceed with 220 speakers participating in more than 50 panel discussions.
