Erdogan Not Invited to EU Summit in Cyprus, Here's Why

Moscow (ANTARA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has not received an invitation to attend the EU summit in Cyprus, according to the Euractiv news portal, citing several EU officials. The next EU high-level conference (summit) will be held in Cyprus on 23-24 April. The apparent change in Brussels’ stance towards Turkey is largely due to Ankara’s close relations with Tehran, according to the report on Wednesday. Cyprus’s Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Marilena Raouna, stated that they did not invite Erdogan for vague reasons related to “geopolitical developments,” the report added. The report noted that leaders from Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, and Syria, as well as the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, will attend the summit on Friday (24/4). Previously, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the ceasefire in Iran with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and stated that Turkey is ready to support the process, according to the Turkish presidential office. Erdogan held telephone talks with Sharif on the matter. During the conversation, they discussed the ceasefire process in Iran and recent developments. “President Erdogan thanked Prime Minister Sharif for his role in this ceasefire process,” according to the statement. “President Erdogan stated that the two-week ceasefire period must be utilised effectively. He also reaffirmed that Turkey will continue to contribute to lasting peace and stability,” the statement added. In response, Pakistan’s Prime Minister also thanked Erdogan for his contributions to the peace process.