Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is paying his first official foreign visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus after being re-elected as President.

Turkish President Erdoğan, who arrived in the TRNC around noon was greeted by President Ersin Tatar and high level state and government officials.

Just outside the airport, a jubilant crowd gathered to see the Turkish president, waving Turkish, TRNC and Azerbaijan flags.

Stepping out of his car, Erdoğan shook hands with members of the public who had been waiting to see a glimpse of him.

Erdoğan’s first official stop was the Atatürk monument in Lefkoşa where he laid wreaths.

He then moved onto the presidential palace where he was given a ceremonial welcomed by the honour guard.

Also present at the presidential palace was the Speaker of the Republic’s Assembly Zorlu Töre, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu, the Minister of Public Works and Transportation Erhan Arıklı, members of the cabinet, the Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa Metin Feyzioğlu as well as other state and government officials.

Accompanying Turkish President Erdoğan from his own government is the Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparaslan Bayraktar, the Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler, the Minister of Transportation and Infastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu as well as other state and government officials.

Following a face-to-face meeting between the two presidents, a meeting was held between technical delegations from both countries.

Following the meeting, a joint press conference will be held at the Presidential Complex.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is expected to depart shortly after the press conference is finished.