CHP’s leader to visit north Cyprus

Leader of the Turkish main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) will attend Republic Day ceremonies in Turkish Cyprus between Nov. 14 and 15.

In a statement released yesterday, the CHP Press Office said Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and his wife Selvi Kılıçdaroğlu had been invited to the ceremonies in Turkish Cyprus by Turkish Cypriot President Derviş Eroğlu. CHP Istanbul deputy Osman Korutürk, CHP council member Hüseyin Pazarcı and party’s executive assitant Tuncay Ceylan will accompany Kılıçdaroğlu. Turkish Cyprus was founded on Nov. 15, 1983. It is recognized by Turkey.

The Mediterranean island has been divided into south and north since Turkish troops intervened in 1974 in response to a Greek Cypriot coup seeking union with Greece. The island joined the European Union in 2004, but only the internationally recognized south enjoys membership benefits. Numerous U.N.-mediated attempts at reunification have failed, but recently the leaders of the two sides of the island have been holding intense meetings in order to reach an agreement.