Turkish President to make first visit abroad to Cyprus

Turkey’s new President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday arrived at the disputed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Ankara, on his first foreign trip since being sworn in four days ago.

Erdogan is scheduled to hold talks with Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu on bilateral relations and efforts to permanently resolve the political dispute over Cyprus, his office announced.

The dispute over who lays claim to Cyprus is considered the biggest stumbling block to Turkey’s plans to join the European Union.

Both the EU and the United Nations do not recognise the 1974-established TRNC but instead recognise the Republic of Cyprus, which is ruled by Cypriot Greeks in the south and is a full-fledged member of both the EU and the UN.