LEFKOSA, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

The president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Sunday urged people in the Greek Cypriot administration who own real estate in the abandoned Turkish Cypriot town of Maras to apply for payment for their property.

Speaking during a visit to the partially reopened town, Ersin Tatar called on Greek Cypriots to apply to the Immovable Property Commission in the TRNC for their assets to be returned.

Before being parts of the coastal town were reopened on Oct. 8, it had been a ghost town to which entry was forbidden, except for Turkish army personnel stationed in the TRNC.

"A large part of Maras is already open, but this beautiful region, which had not been open and has been preserved for 46 years, is now ready to open."

He stressed that for 46 years, all proposals meant to build confidence between the two sides by opening Maras have been rejected by the Greek Cypriot administration.

Tatar underlined that the opening of Maras and the ability of property owners to come via the Immovable Property Commission and receive their assets was a "requirement of human rights."

"We're really happy because this place has been a ghost town for 46 years."

He added that the return of properties would be the "right step" to develop Maras, which is located in the city of Gazimagusa, also known as Famagusta.

Cyprus has been divided into the TRNC in the north and Greek Cypriot administration in the south since a 1974 military coup that aimed to annex Cyprus to Greece.

Turkey's military intervention as a guarantor power in 1974 put an end to years of persecution and violence against Turkish Cypriots by ultra-nationalist Greek Cypriots.

*Writing by Havva Kara Aydin