By Serdar Atai
VAROSHA HAS been described as a ‘Ghost Town’ or ‘No Man’s Land’, terms which are reminiscent of Hollywood’s horror film productions.
This Ghost Town is perhaps the most striking symbol of the anachronistic conflict and division of Cyprus.
In order to create an atmosphere of oppression, deprivation, exploitation and a psychology of victim/saviour relationship on Turkish Cypriots, it’s been also described as a Pandora’s Box, harbouring many unknowns and dangers inside.
In this context, it is the basic instrument of psychological warfare and a reminder of the transitional arrangement of Article 10 of the “TRNC” Constitution. which positions Turkish Military on top of the hierarchy in administration over the territory of north Cyprus.
Interference with the domestic affairs and the prejudice by majority of Turkish Cypriots in favour of Turkey’s non-questionable existence as a guarantor power for our security are maintained and safeguarded through this way.
Although the Greek name Varosia which means “outskirts” has a corresponding word in Turkish as Varosh, Turkey has prefered to name it as Marash which is originally a name belonging to a settlement in south-east Anatolia.
In the aftermath of 1974, the intensive looting of Varosha with all its movable and immovable properties which remains unpunished, has inspired lawbreakers and robbers in north for escalation of further property rights violations and other illegal actions.
On different platforms from time to time, Turkish Cypriot Famagustans were criticised as people who dislike the sea.
Local residents living in Famagusta have been steadily denied enjoying and embracing the sea close to their beloved city just because of the military presence in and around the open and closed districts of Famagusta. How on earth could these people fall in love with the sea under these circumstances?
Tourism and the related subsectors of tourism in the region could not be upgraded because of the same reason. With no exception, there are military installations next to or across from every touristic accomodation and historical site.
We should note another reality that from 1974 onwards, Famagustans were paralysed in their tourism ventures with the historic loss of the nearly 10,000 tourist bed capacity available in Varosha.
Neither is the ancient Port of Famagusta able to function properly because of the unresolved status of Varosha. In comparison with the figures before 1974, the trade volume during the postwar period is only a quarter in the best performing times.
Another complication is the extraordinary cultural heritage of the walled city that has been left to its own destiny because of the stalemate on Varosha. A historical city which could easily be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is under serious threat in the brink of collapse and runs on idle capacity at the moment.
As a result of the ongoing division of the city, long term permanent physical planning can neither be envisaged nor realised. The Famagusta metropolitan area still suffers heavily from not having a decent town planning, transportation network, sewage system, waste water treatment system and other fundamental facilities and services of infrastructure.
To sum up: at a crucial time when the global economic crisis has severely hit the world, the return of Varosha to its legal owners under the EU or UN administration is going to be the most feasible and breakthrough opportunity for everybody in Cyprus.
Varosha has a unique potential to be the colabaratory where Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots can rebuild their common future, generate tremendous income and pave the way forward to reunification of the whole island.
So far, Famagustans have been one of the biggest losers of the Cyprus conflict and regardless of their ethnic origins, I guess almost all Famagustans are unhappy with the current socio-economic situation in the region.
As a Turkish Cypriot Famagustan, I have to speak out over the fact that the Turkish official viewpoint, which is to keep Varosha as a “bargaining chip” for concessions from the Greek Cypriot community, is totally unacceptable. The burden of this approach has become tragicly unbearable for every single stakeholder. A neighbourhood having such an impressively colourful, vibrant and wealthy history before 1974 should be revived for the benefit of all Cypriots, as soon as possible without waiting for a comprehensive settlement.
Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2009
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