Cyprus-Forum.com

[EricSeans]

having seen only a very small part of this place i would think the structors are completly unsafe and the buildings would probably have to be demolished who would pay for this , would small shop owners afford to rebuild or will they sell up to cover the cost

I'm not a building surveyor but I've been all over the place in recent years and while some of the seafront buildings are crumbling, the residential suburbs are pretty intact with many completely shuttered and wind and watertight. Off the top of my head I'd say the EU/UNops/USaid/RoC will largely foot the renovation bill with subsidised municipality grants for private businesses and householders. If I was a refugee from that town and the Turks pulled out I'd be there the next day to pitch a tent in the garden until I got my place fixed up.

[georgios100]

Whenever Famagusta is returned, I have serious doubts, many of the displaced Varoshiotes may not relocate back to their native town, including most of my immediate family members... 6 brothers & 2 sisters. Similar situation from most of my friends from Varoshia. To my surprise, none of their descendants (kids), born after the 1974 war, expressed any interest in returning back "home".

Most of them are "settled" in other cities or abroad. Others lost interest or motive to return back.

My question to you is:

Who is ready to return to Varoshia at a moments notice? Are we ready to re-claim Varoshia, the jewel of Cyprus?

Georgios100

Why would a GC open such a stupid thread?

Most Varoshiotes I know, want to return.

Agreed, let's remember it was a very, very prosperous place and will be even more prosperous next time around, with loads and loads of business and employment opportunities to attract people back. .... and with a Highway not more than a handful of miles away.

Dead cert people will return to the New Jewel of the Med.

There is no doubt, we shall reclaim the city. Some EX residents may not return but rather sell their properties to others. Another group of Varoshiotes may be abroad, established there with businesses, family etc, hard for them to abandon everything just like that. A small percentage may be "dead"... their heirs to take over...

In the end, all lands returned from the solution will be reclaimed. The "synthesis" of the "claimants" may not be 100% original displaced people.
This term applies to all returned lands, not just Famagusta. Sad to say, it may take years to transform these returned lands to GC living standards, therefor, the so called "mass move to freed lands" seems more gradual than immediate.

As Famagusta, a deserted city, suffered decay & erosion thru time, I believe other freed lands will be stripped from any useful items prior to surrendering them to RoC... in short, whatever lands are given back should be considered just land. Any buildings or equirment will only be subject to demolition, the main reason of the delay of actual population relocation to freed areas.

This is the reality I am facing. Unfortunately, our fellow Cypriots, the TCs, are expected to ruin any worthy buildings, homes or equipment just before the handover... it's their nature to destroy what the are about to give up...

Georgios100

[YFred]

Whenever Famagusta is returned, I have serious doubts, many of the displaced Varoshiotes may not relocate back to their native town, including most of my immediate family members... 6 brothers & 2 sisters. Similar situation from most of my friends from Varoshia. To my surprise, none of their descendants (kids), born after the 1974 war, expressed any interest in returning back "home".

Most of them are "settled" in other cities or abroad. Others lost interest or motive to return back.

My question to you is:

Who is ready to return to Varoshia at a moments notice? Are we ready to re-claim Varoshia, the jewel of Cyprus?

Georgios100

Why would a GC open such a stupid thread?

Most Varoshiotes I know, want to return.

Agreed, let's remember it was a very, very prosperous place and will be even more prosperous next time around, with loads and loads of business and employment opportunities to attract people back. .... and with a Highway not more than a handful of miles away.

Dead cert people will return to the New Jewel of the Med.

There is no doubt, we shall reclaim the city. Some EX residents may not return but rather sell their properties to others. Another group of Varoshiotes may be abroad, established there with businesses, family etc, hard for them to abandon everything just like that. A small percentage may be "dead"... their heirs to take over...

In the end, all lands returned from the solution will be reclaimed. The "synthesis" of the "claimants" may not be 100% original displaced people.
This term applies to all returned lands, not just Famagusta. Sad to say, it may take years to transform these returned lands to GC living standards, therefor, the so called "mass move to freed lands" seems more gradual than immediate.

As Famagusta, a deserted city, suffered decay & erosion thru time, I believe other freed lands will be stripped from any useful items prior to surrendering them to RoC... in short, whatever lands are given back should be considered just land. Any buildings or equirment will only be subject to demolition, the main reason of the delay of actual population relocation to freed areas.

This is the reality I am facing. Unfortunately, our fellow Cypriots, the TCs, are expected to ruin any worthy buildings, homes or equipment just before the handover... it's their nature to destroy what the are about to give up...

Georgios100

Really George. Those TCs hey, what bastards they must be. Wasn't it Cuntunas's client who insisted the house was knocked down, before hand over. Perhaps we can apply that to all other buildings before had over, it's only fair.

[cymart]

... Return to Varosha pages for lots of info and recent photos!

[Viewpoint]

Dont get excited nothing is being returned, but lets say it was under TC control would GCs return then?

[georgios100]

Whenever Famagusta is returned, I have serious doubts, many of the displaced Varoshiotes may not relocate back to their native town, including most of my immediate family members... 6 brothers & 2 sisters. Similar situation from most of my friends from Varoshia. To my surprise, none of their descendants (kids), born after the 1974 war, expressed any interest in returning back "home".

Most of them are "settled" in other cities or abroad. Others lost interest or motive to return back.

My question to you is:

Who is ready to return to Varoshia at a moments notice? Are we ready to re-claim Varoshia, the jewel of Cyprus?

Georgios100

Why would a GC open such a stupid thread?

Most Varoshiotes I know, want to return.

Agreed, let's remember it was a very, very prosperous place and will be even more prosperous next time around, with loads and loads of business and employment opportunities to attract people back. .... and with a Highway not more than a handful of miles away.

Dead cert people will return to the New Jewel of the Med.

There is no doubt, we shall reclaim the city. Some EX residents may not return but rather sell their properties to others. Another group of Varoshiotes may be abroad, established there with businesses, family etc, hard for them to abandon everything just like that. A small percentage may be "dead"... their heirs to take over...

In the end, all lands returned from the solution will be reclaimed. The "synthesis" of the "claimants" may not be 100% original displaced people.
This term applies to all returned lands, not just Famagusta. Sad to say, it may take years to transform these returned lands to GC living standards, therefor, the so called "mass move to freed lands" seems more gradual than immediate.

As Famagusta, a deserted city, suffered decay & erosion thru time, I believe other freed lands will be stripped from any useful items prior to surrendering them to RoC... in short, whatever lands are given back should be considered just land. Any buildings or equirment will only be subject to demolition, the main reason of the delay of actual population relocation to freed areas.

This is the reality I am facing. Unfortunately, our fellow Cypriots, the TCs, are expected to ruin any worthy buildings, homes or equipment just before the handover... it's their nature to destroy what the are about to give up...

Georgios100

Really George. Those TCs hey, what bastards they must be. Wasn't it Cuntunas's client who insisted the house was knocked down, before hand over. Perhaps we can apply that to all other buildings before had over, it's only fair.

I am 100% convinced you would destroy anything before the handover. Instead, maintaining the "stolen" properties, the right thing to do, is not part of your vocabulary. And yet, you want to become Europeans... a lost cause!

[YFred]

Whenever Famagusta is returned, I have serious doubts, many of the displaced Varoshiotes may not relocate back to their native town, including most of my immediate family members... 6 brothers & 2 sisters. Similar situation from most of my friends from Varoshia. To my surprise, none of their descendants (kids), born after the 1974 war, expressed any interest in returning back "home".

Most of them are "settled" in other cities or abroad. Others lost interest or motive to return back.

My question to you is:

Who is ready to return to Varoshia at a moments notice? Are we ready to re-claim Varoshia, the jewel of Cyprus?

Georgios100

Why would a GC open such a stupid thread?

Most Varoshiotes I know, want to return.

Agreed, let's remember it was a very, very prosperous place and will be even more prosperous next time around, with loads and loads of business and employment opportunities to attract people back. .... and with a Highway not more than a handful of miles away.

Dead cert people will return to the New Jewel of the Med.

There is no doubt, we shall reclaim the city. Some EX residents may not return but rather sell their properties to others. Another group of Varoshiotes may be abroad, established there with businesses, family etc, hard for them to abandon everything just like that. A small percentage may be "dead"... their heirs to take over...

In the end, all lands returned from the solution will be reclaimed. The "synthesis" of the "claimants" may not be 100% original displaced people.
This term applies to all returned lands, not just Famagusta. Sad to say, it may take years to transform these returned lands to GC living standards, therefor, the so called "mass move to freed lands" seems more gradual than immediate.

As Famagusta, a deserted city, suffered decay & erosion thru time, I believe other freed lands will be stripped from any useful items prior to surrendering them to RoC... in short, whatever lands are given back should be considered just land. Any buildings or equirment will only be subject to demolition, the main reason of the delay of actual population relocation to freed areas.

This is the reality I am facing. Unfortunately, our fellow Cypriots, the TCs, are expected to ruin any worthy buildings, homes or equipment just before the handover... it's their nature to destroy what the are about to give up...

Georgios100

Really George. Those TCs hey, what bastards they must be. Wasn't it Cuntunas's client who insisted the house was knocked down, before hand over. Perhaps we can apply that to all other buildings before had over, it's only fair.

I am 100% convinced you would destroy anything before the handover. Instead, maintaining the "stolen" properties, the right thing to do, is not part of your vocabulary. And yet, you want to become Europeans... a lost cause!

So long as you are 100% sure. May I ask how you arrived at such a fantastic conclusion? It is very ungreek like to be so wrong. Because when the hand over happens if it does, you will be proven 100% wrong. Only Americans and the Israilies do that sort of thing. We certainly are neither.

[EricSeans]

Whenever Famagusta is returned, I have serious doubts, many of the displaced Varoshiotes may not relocate back to their native town, including most of my immediate family members... 6 brothers & 2 sisters. Similar situation from most of my friends from Varoshia. To my surprise, none of their descendants (kids), born after the 1974 war, expressed any interest in returning back "home".

Most of them are "settled" in other cities or abroad. Others lost interest or motive to return back.

My question to you is:

Who is ready to return to Varoshia at a moments notice? Are we ready to re-claim Varoshia, the jewel of Cyprus?

Georgios100

Why would a GC open such a stupid thread?

Most Varoshiotes I know, want to return.

Agreed, let's remember it was a very, very prosperous place and will be even more prosperous next time around, with loads and loads of business and employment opportunities to attract people back. .... and with a Highway not more than a handful of miles away.

Dead cert people will return to the New Jewel of the Med.

There is no doubt, we shall reclaim the city. Some EX residents may not return but rather sell their properties to others. Another group of Varoshiotes may be abroad, established there with businesses, family etc, hard for them to abandon everything just like that. A small percentage may be "dead"... their heirs to take over...

In the end, all lands returned from the solution will be reclaimed. The "synthesis" of the "claimants" may not be 100% original displaced people.
This term applies to all returned lands, not just Famagusta. Sad to say, it may take years to transform these returned lands to GC living standards, therefor, the so called "mass move to freed lands" seems more gradual than immediate.

As Famagusta, a deserted city, suffered decay & erosion thru time, I believe other freed lands will be stripped from any useful items prior to surrendering them to RoC... in short, whatever lands are given back should be considered just land. Any buildings or equirment will only be subject to demolition, the main reason of the delay of actual population relocation to freed areas.

This is the reality I am facing. Unfortunately, our fellow Cypriots, the TCs, are expected to ruin any worthy buildings, homes or equipment just before the handover... it's their nature to destroy what the are about to give up...

Georgios100

Really George. Those TCs hey, what bastards they must be. Wasn't it Cuntunas's client who insisted the house was knocked down, before hand over. Perhaps we can apply that to all other buildings before had over, it's only fair.

I am 100% convinced you would destroy anything before the handover. Instead, maintaining the "stolen" properties, the right thing to do, is not part of your vocabulary. And yet, you want to become Europeans... a lost cause!

Giorgios,

To be fair Varosha was looted by Turkey using the Turkish army. The Turkish Cypriots had no part and no say in it. The looting was carried out systematically under the eyes of the UN between 1974 and 1976. White goods, furniture, personal property etc was loaded onto army trucks and taken down to Famagusta docks then shipped to Mersin. If you go behind the wire you'll see houses and streets numbered and sectioned off with paint and inside the buildings there is usually grafitti from the soldiers and the dates - usually 1975 - when they were clearing the houses.

Personally I can't see Turkey adopting "scorched earth" policy under any pull-out or adjustment. What would Ankara have to gain? The Turkish government and Citizen Osman want a solution for Cyprus and the international benefits that would go with this.

[YFred]

Whenever Famagusta is returned, I have serious doubts, many of the displaced Varoshiotes may not relocate back to their native town, including most of my immediate family members... 6 brothers & 2 sisters. Similar situation from most of my friends from Varoshia. To my surprise, none of their descendants (kids), born after the 1974 war, expressed any interest in returning back "home".

Most of them are "settled" in other cities or abroad. Others lost interest or motive to return back.

My question to you is:

Who is ready to return to Varoshia at a moments notice? Are we ready to re-claim Varoshia, the jewel of Cyprus?

Georgios100

Why would a GC open such a stupid thread?

Most Varoshiotes I know, want to return.

Agreed, let's remember it was a very, very prosperous place and will be even more prosperous next time around, with loads and loads of business and employment opportunities to attract people back. .... and with a Highway not more than a handful of miles away.

Dead cert people will return to the New Jewel of the Med.

There is no doubt, we shall reclaim the city. Some EX residents may not return but rather sell their properties to others. Another group of Varoshiotes may be abroad, established there with businesses, family etc, hard for them to abandon everything just like that. A small percentage may be "dead"... their heirs to take over...

In the end, all lands returned from the solution will be reclaimed. The "synthesis" of the "claimants" may not be 100% original displaced people.
This term applies to all returned lands, not just Famagusta. Sad to say, it may take years to transform these returned lands to GC living standards, therefor, the so called "mass move to freed lands" seems more gradual than immediate.

As Famagusta, a deserted city, suffered decay & erosion thru time, I believe other freed lands will be stripped from any useful items prior to surrendering them to RoC... in short, whatever lands are given back should be considered just land. Any buildings or equirment will only be subject to demolition, the main reason of the delay of actual population relocation to freed areas.

This is the reality I am facing. Unfortunately, our fellow Cypriots, the TCs, are expected to ruin any worthy buildings, homes or equipment just before the handover... it's their nature to destroy what the are about to give up...

Georgios100

Really George. Those TCs hey, what bastards they must be. Wasn't it Cuntunas's client who insisted the house was knocked down, before hand over. Perhaps we can apply that to all other buildings before had over, it's only fair.

I am 100% convinced you would destroy anything before the handover. Instead, maintaining the "stolen" properties, the right thing to do, is not part of your vocabulary. And yet, you want to become Europeans... a lost cause!

Giorgios,

To be fair Varosha was looted by Turkey using the Turkish army. The Turkish Cypriots had no part and no say in it. The looting was carried out systematically under the eyes of the UN between 1974 and 1976. White goods, furniture, personal property etc was loaded onto army trucks and taken down to Famagusta docks then shipped to Mersin. If you go behind the wire you'll see houses and streets numbered and sectioned off with paint and inside the buildings there is usually grafitti from the soldiers and the dates - usually 1975 - when they were clearing the houses.

Personally I can't see Turkey adopting "scorched earth" policy under any pull-out or adjustment. What would Ankara have to gain? The Turkish government and Citizen Osman want a solution for Cyprus and the international benefits that would go with this.

I would like George to explain to us how he arrived at his fantastic conclusion. Please George please do, because we haven't had a good laugh since GR and his 15 reprebates brovado of throwing all the turks into the sea.

[cymart]

Turkey found it abandoned,grabbed it and looted it.....a few years later there were initiatives for it to be given to the U.N. so its original Greek-Cypriot inhabitants could return as negotiations for a solution progressed,but this was rejected by both sides under various pretexts.(see western plan,1978 and last weeks article by Nicos Rolandis)
Ever since then there have been various attempts to deal with the situation but knowing its value as a bargaining chip,Turkey will not give it up until the Greek-Cypriots come to an overall deal with them or at least meet some serious demands of theirs.The tragedy is that for the first ten years or so many of the buildings could have been renovated quickly,but after more than thirty five years most will have to be demolished as mold has infiltrated them to such an extent that it will be impossible to eradicate(See article by Nathan Morley in the Cyprus Mail on Alan Weissmans book 'The world without us' for which the author was given access to Varosha for research purposes)
Perhaps unknown to most Greek-Cypriots is that the closed area of Varosha is used in certain parts,mainly around the Sandy beach Hotel area by several thousand Turkish Military personnel as a holiday centre and there are a few hundred other people from the Turkish Cypriot municipality who are allowed access to provide services for them such as waste disposal,water,electricity etc.)
By visiting the Return to Varosha site on Multiply.com any one will see that there is a lot of information about Varosha,both past and present including some very interesting recent photos of the closed area.
As a person with an avid interest and family connections there I have always wanted to go back,but am well aware that many of the older former inhabitants are no longer alive and their descendants have no particular desire to go,even if they could...and under the best scenario,it would be at least five years before the town could be rebuilt.