Nicosia, Cyprus. The government on Thursday did not say whether it will join United States President Donald Trump’s Gaza Board of Peace, with a signing ceremony scheduled later in the day in Davos. Cyprus had been invited to participate, but its position remains unclear.
Invitation and membership fee reports
Reports on Saturday said Cyprus had been invited to join the board, with Bloomberg reporting that each participating country would be required to pay a $1 billion membership fee. Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis confirmed on Sunday that Cyprus had been invited, but said reports about the $1 billion fee “do not reflect reality.” Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was also invited, has since confirmed the existence of the $1 billion fee.
Countries joining and declining
A total of 24 countries have confirmed they will join the board, including Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Israel, Pakistan and Turkey. Turkey’s foreign ministry said Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan would be in Davos on Thursday for the signing ceremony.
Seven countries—France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom—have declined invitations to participate. Greece, like Cyprus, has not said whether it will join.
UK position and concerns
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper was in Davos on Thursday but declined to sign the United Kingdom up as a member. She said the board’s creation is “a legal treaty that raises much broader issues.”
Cooper also said the UK has “concerns” about Putin’s potential involvement. The Russian government, like that of Cyprus, has not confirmed or denied whether it will join the board.
Executive board and roles
In addition to participating countries, the Board of Peace will have a seven-member executive board. It will include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son in law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, and World Bank president Ajay Banga.
The White House said each executive board member will oversee a defined portfolio critical to Gaza’s stabilisation and long-term success, including governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction, large-scale funding, and capital mobilisation.
High representative for Gaza
Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov, a former UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, was named as the board’s “high representative for Gaza.”
What position do you think Cyprus should take on joining the Gaza Board of Peace?