Washington, United States. Cyprus attended the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace this week with Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos participating as an observer, while Nicosia continues to weigh whether to pursue any future involvement. Cyprus also participates directly in the Civil-Military Coordination Centre for Gaza, which the article said has raised questions about its purpose.
Observer participation in Washington
At Thursday’s inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace (BoP), Cyprus was represented by Kombos in an observer capacity. Eleven other European Union member states also sent representatives as observers.
No membership and no standing observer role
Cyprus is not currently a member of the BoP, and diplomatic sources did not rule out Cyprus joining at a later date. The same sources said Kombos’ observer participation applied only to the Washington meeting and does not amount to general observer status for Cyprus in relation to the BoP, adding that Cyprus has no institutional role.
Concerns over international law and governance
Nicosia is cautious about elements of the BoP that may not be anchored in international law, according to the sources. They cited as an example the issue of US President Donald Trump serving as the board’s indefinite chairman and raised questions about what would happen when he leaves office, including under what authority he would remain chairman.
Membership cost and a wait-and-see approach
The sources also pointed to the board’s $1 billion buy-in for permanent membership, describing it as an entry fee Cyprus likely could not afford. The overall approach, the sources said, is for Cyprus to proceed carefully and ensure any actions are compatible with international law.
Why did Cyprus send its foreign minister to the inaugural meeting as an observer?