Turkish Cypriot leader receives Turkey's top diplomat

LEFKOSA, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akinci on Monday received Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

Following their meeting, which lasted for about an hour-and-a-half, a roundtable meeting started with the participation of Cavusoglu and political party leaders from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) parliament.

Akinci is chair of the meeting, attended by TRNC Prime Minister Ersin Tatar, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kudret Ozersay, Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhurman, and other party leaders.

Cavusoglu is also due to meet with Prime Minister Tatar after holding a joint news conference with President Akinci.

Later, Cavusoglu, along with Ozersay, took an inspection tour to Maras, an abandoned city in the northern part of the divided island of Cyprus.

Maras is a ghost city where entry is forbidden, with the exception of the Turkish army personnel.

Maras was abandoned after the UN Security Council passed Resolution 550 on May 11, 1984, which barred the resettlement of the town.

The TNRC on June 18 announced the opening of Maras to tourists.

*Writing by Sena Guler and Rabia Iclal Turan.