TRNC set to reopen ghost town of Varosha

The TRNC is almost ready to begin the reopening of the closed off town of Varosha, (Maras), Prime Minister, Ersin Tatar said on Friday.

The former resort area fenced off has been abandoned in no-man’s land since 1974 when the island was splited.

Ersin Tatar said the revival of Varosha, now an eerie collection of derelict hotels, churches and residences, would bring trade and tourism benefits.

Varosha, a southern suburb of the city of Famagusta and a former holiday resort has been off limits to all but the Turkish military since 1974.

Varosha has become a bargaining chip in the decades-long dispute between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Ringed by a fence extending into the sea, the town is overrun by cacti and debris.

Varosha is most definitely going to be opened. The tide has shifted, a new page has been turned, Tatar said. Northern Cyprus will become stronger by opening Varosha to tourism.

Tatar gave no specific time line for reopening Varosha.

Varosha lies within TRNC territory. Nobody can take it from us. We are successfully continuing on our path. The inventory work is almost complete, we are in the opening phase.