Cyprus-Forum.com

[EPSILON]

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

Famagusta is the only city in Cyprus where personally i belive 100 per cent of its citizens,including these abroad, will return back.

The problem is how long time will be required the city to be ready to accomodate again even 1 citizen-how many billions Euros are necessary for this target?-are Turks or their supporters around redy to cover this cost?

[cymart]

Tim is right,except on one small point-the closed area is not very hermetically sealed and theoritically could be entered at various points along its perimeter,albeit at risk of being caught by the mobile patrols and also static guards who are positioned in various buildings:there are reports of people who have been in and out without any mishap,but as I was told in my 'lecture' from a very well -meaning Anglo-Turkish Cypriot member of the SBA police,the risk far outways the possible gain of seeing your ruined property,possibly injuring yourself if you try to enter it and it collapses etc and then the need to get back to the fence and over it without being caught!!He knew the area from his time in the Army in the north and warned me that as a grade 1 Military area,the Turkish Army will punish any trespassers with imprisonment and a heavy fine,even more so if they come from the south and are therefore suspect spies!

[Paphitis]

In the past, I did think about swimming northwards to the Ghost City. I was talked out of it since I was easily convinced that I would be shot. Images of Solomou being shot from a flag pole made their arguments very convincing.

I hope the next time I go to Cyprus (next year), the Ghost City will be liberated. If not, I am crossing with a good buddy of mine that knows all the possible avenues.

[Tim Drayton]

Tim is right,except on one small point-the closed area is not very hermetically sealed and theoritically could be entered at various points along its perimeter,albeit at risk of being caught by the mobile patrols and also static guards who are positioned in various buildings:there are reports of people who have been in and out without any mishap,but as I was told in my 'lecture' from a very well -meaning Anglo-Turkish Cypriot member of the SBA police,the risk far outways the possible gain of seeing your ruined property,possibly injuring yourself if you try to enter it and it collapses etc and then the need to get back to the fence and over it without being caught!!He knew the area from his time in the Army in the north and warned me that as a grade 1 Military area,the Turkish Army will punish any trespassers with imprisonment and a heavy fine,even more so if they come from the south and are therefore suspect spies!

Sure, but my real point is that you can hardly blame ordinary Turkish Cypriots for what has happened to Varosha. Most decent Turkish Cypriots deplore what has happened there and are hardly in a position to alter anything given that the place is under the direct control of the Turkish military.

[Paphitis]

Tim is right,except on one small point-the closed area is not very hermetically sealed and theoritically could be entered at various points along its perimeter,albeit at risk of being caught by the mobile patrols and also static guards who are positioned in various buildings:there are reports of people who have been in and out without any mishap,but as I was told in my 'lecture' from a very well -meaning Anglo-Turkish Cypriot member of the SBA police,the risk far outways the possible gain of seeing your ruined property,possibly injuring yourself if you try to enter it and it collapses etc and then the need to get back to the fence and over it without being caught!!He knew the area from his time in the Army in the north and warned me that as a grade 1 Military area,the Turkish Army will punish any trespassers with imprisonment and a heavy fine,even more so if they come from the south and are therefore suspect spies!

Sure, but my real point is that you can hardly blame ordinary Turkish Cypriots for what has happened to Varosha. Most decent Turkish Cypriots deplore what has happened there and are hardly in a position to alter anything given that the place is under the direct control of the Turkish military.

Many TCs on this forum are also saying that they will never give it back! They even taunt us.

[Nikitas]

Forget about preserving concrete building which have withstood salt laden air for 35 years. The whole of Famagusta has to be rebuilt. This may be lamentable for the owners who have fond memorie s of their houses, but it will be a major boost for the Cypriot economy. Calculate on the whole town, infrastructure and all, being replaced, along with 15000 dwellings and several hundred hotels and public buildings.

In short we are talking of a major civil engineering project wbich technically is withing the capabilities of the local construction industry. The trickle down effect will be huge for the whole economy.

As for returning, well I am a Varoshiotis, and I would return to claim my part. Even if I did not want to live there, I want a stake in the town. That goes for all the Varoshiotes friends of mine.

As for the TCs who lived in the old city, they seem to have had no trouble fleeing from there, apparently they do not feel for their part of town the same way we feel for our part. But I do not blame them, walled cities do not do it for me either. I never liked living in old NIcosia before moving to Famagusta. Those walls give me such a choking feeling.

[georgios100]

Forget about preserving concrete building which have withstood salt laden air for 35 years. The whole of Famagusta has to be rebuilt. This may be lamentable for the owners who have fond memorie s of their houses, but it will be a major boost for the Cypriot economy. Calculate on the whole town, infrastructure and all, being replaced, along with 15000 dwellings and several hundred hotels and public buildings.

In short we are talking of a major civil engineering project wbich technically is withing the capabilities of the local construction industry. The trickle down effect will be huge for the whole economy.

As for returning, well I am a Varoshiotis, and I would return to claim my part. Even if I did not want to live there, I want a stake in the town. That goes for all the Varoshiotes friends of mine.

As for the TCs who lived in the old city, they seem to have had no trouble fleeing from there, apparently they do not feel for their part of town the same way we feel for our part. But I do not blame them, walled cities do not do it for me either. I never liked living in old NIcosia before moving to Famagusta. Those walls give me such a choking feeling.

I am Varoshiotis too, like you Nikitas.

Rebuilding the whole city requires some big bucks. A boast to the local economy, yes. Finding the money... yes and no. I estimate at least 20 years or more to bring the city back from the dead... I'll be dead by then anyway.

Honestly, I think Turkey should pick-up the tab for this effort. Turkey is the responsible agent for this mess.

Georgios100

[vaughanwilliams]

Forget about preserving concrete building which have withstood salt laden air for 35 years. The whole of Famagusta has to be rebuilt. This may be lamentable for the owners who have fond memorie s of their houses, but it will be a major boost for the Cypriot economy. Calculate on the whole town, infrastructure and all, being replaced, along with 15000 dwellings and several hundred hotels and public buildings.

In short we are talking of a major civil engineering project wbich technically is withing the capabilities of the local construction industry. The trickle down effect will be huge for the whole economy.

As for returning, well I am a Varoshiotis, and I would return to claim my part. Even if I did not want to live there, I want a stake in the town. That goes for all the Varoshiotes friends of mine.

As for the TCs who lived in the old city, they seem to have had no trouble fleeing from there, apparently they do not feel for their part of town the same way we feel for our part. But I do not blame them, walled cities do not do it for me either. I never liked living in old NIcosia before moving to Famagusta. Those walls give me such a choking feeling.

I am Varoshiotis too, like you Nikitas.

Rebuilding the whole city requires some big bucks. A boast to the local economy, yes. Finding the money... yes and no. I estimate at least 20 years or more to bring the city back from the dead... I'll be dead by then anyway.

Honestly, I think Turkey should pick-up the tab for this effort. Turkey is the responsible agent for this mess.

Georgios100

Without going off on a tangent, surely the Junta with their attempted coup are the responsible agents? The Turkish intervention was the consequence, not the cause.
Unfortuantely, Greece doesn't have a penny to scratch its arse with, right now.
The private sector will eat the reconstruction up and pay handsomely.

[Tim Drayton]

Forget about preserving concrete building which have withstood salt laden air for 35 years. The whole of Famagusta has to be rebuilt. This may be lamentable for the owners who have fond memorie s of their houses, but it will be a major boost for the Cypriot economy. Calculate on the whole town, infrastructure and all, being replaced, along with 15000 dwellings and several hundred hotels and public buildings.

In short we are talking of a major civil engineering project wbich technically is withing the capabilities of the local construction industry. The trickle down effect will be huge for the whole economy.

As for returning, well I am a Varoshiotis, and I would return to claim my part. Even if I did not want to live there, I want a stake in the town. That goes for all the Varoshiotes friends of mine.

As for the TCs who lived in the old city, they seem to have had no trouble fleeing from there, apparently they do not feel for their part of town the same way we feel for our part. But I do not blame them, walled cities do not do it for me either. I never liked living in old NIcosia before moving to Famagusta. Those walls give me such a choking feeling.

In one sense, this would present an exciting opportunity to create from scratch a whole new state-of-the-art tourism centre that could possibly help to revive Cyprus's rather stale tourism product.

[vaughanwilliams]

Forget about preserving concrete building which have withstood salt laden air for 35 years. The whole of Famagusta has to be rebuilt. This may be lamentable for the owners who have fond memorie s of their houses, but it will be a major boost for the Cypriot economy. Calculate on the whole town, infrastructure and all, being replaced, along with 15000 dwellings and several hundred hotels and public buildings.

In short we are talking of a major civil engineering project wbich technically is withing the capabilities of the local construction industry. The trickle down effect will be huge for the whole economy.

As for returning, well I am a Varoshiotis, and I would return to claim my part. Even if I did not want to live there, I want a stake in the town. That goes for all the Varoshiotes friends of mine.

As for the TCs who lived in the old city, they seem to have had no trouble fleeing from there, apparently they do not feel for their part of town the same way we feel for our part. But I do not blame them, walled cities do not do it for me either. I never liked living in old NIcosia before moving to Famagusta. Those walls give me such a choking feeling.

In one sense, this would present an exciting opportunity to create from scratch a whole new state-of-the-art tourism centre that could possibly help to revive Cyprus's rather stale tourism product.

With the right investment by the right companies this could equal anything to be found in the region. I suspect, however, that rather than the work going to the best companies, it will go to the best mates.