Top Turkish diplomat to visit Northern Cyprus on Friday

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's foreign minister will visit the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Friday, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

"Minister Cavusoglu will meet with the TRNC President [Mustafa Akinci] and other TRNC authorities, as well as the leaders of the political parties to discuss opportunities for further enhancement of the close cooperation between Turkey and the TRNC, and to coordinate on the recent developments related to the Cyprus issue and the Eastern Mediterranean," the ministry said in a statement.

The Eastern Mediterranean island Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when a Greek Cypriot coup was followed by violence against the island's Turks, and Ankara's intervention as a guarantor power.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which was declared on Nov. 15, 1983, is currently recognized only by Turkey as an independent state.