Belgian tour group urges: 'Discover Northern Cyprus'

By Murat Demirci

GIRNE, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (AA) - A Belgian tour organizer reached a port city in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Monday with the dual aims of promoting the country and making a charity donation.

The six-person group from the Robinson Club Company started its journey from Vorselaar, Belgium and reached Girne, Northern Cyprus with the slogan "Discover Northern Cyprus".

The group is also set to donate 5,000 euros to a kindergarten in Lefkosa, the nation’s capital.

The group was met at the port of Girne by TRNC independent Deputy Hasan Tacoy and Mayor Nidai Gungordu.

Speaking there, Tacoy said the event is supported by the TRNC’s Foreign Ministry and Vorselaar Municipality and "is an important event and source of pride for them."

Tacoy added that Vorselaar and Girne have become sister cities.

Cyprus was divided into a Turkish Cypriot state in the north and a Greek Cypriot administration in the south after a 1974 military coup was followed by violence against the island’s Turks, and Turkey’s intervention as a guarantor power.

The status of the island remains unresolved despite years of negotiations.