Istanbul Mayor to attend Glasgow climate summit that Erdoğan skipped over security dispute

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu is set to attend the global climate conference in Glasgow, municipality spokesperson Murat Ongun said on Nov. 1. His announcement came after President Erdoğan canceled plans to attend it because Britain failed to meet Turkey's demands on security arrangements.

Tuesday November 02 2021 01:45 pm

Duvar English

Istanbul Municipality spokesperson Murat Ongun on Nov. 1 said that Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu is set to attend two separate panels in the global climate conference in Glasgow.

According to Ongun, İmamoğlu, who is from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), was invited to the COP26 summit to represent Istanbul.

İBB Başkanı Ekrem İmamoğlu, Birleşmiş Milletler'in ev sahipliğinde Glasgow'da düzenlenen COP26 İklim Zirvesi’nde, BM ve C40'ın davetlisi olarak 2 ayrı panelde konuşarak İstanbul’u temsil edecek.
— Murat Ongun (@Mrt_Ongun) November 1, 2021

Ongun's announcement came hours after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan canceled plans to attend it because Britain failed to meet Turkey's demands on security arrangements.

"When our demands were not met we decided not to go to Glasgow," Erdoğan said, adding that the protocol standards Ankara sought were those always implemented on his international trips.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson initially said the problem had been resolved, Erdoğan said. "But at the last moment he got back to us and said that the Scottish side was causing difficulties," he noted.

Erdoğan said he subsequently learnt that the measures Turkey had sought were granted as an exception to another country, which he did not name. He said this was unacceptable.

"We are obliged to protect the dignity of our nation," he said.