Cyprus-Forum.com

[cymart]

The Turkish Cypriot tour guides association said last week that they have asked for permission to allow them to show Tourists the closed area of Varosha as an interim measure until it has been re-opened,alleging that it arouses interest from many visitors who often ask them questions about it?They suggest that this way the subject will not be forgotten and it could help to increase pressure on Turkey to return it to its legal owners.Furthermore amd even more interesting,they also said that until the end of the 1990's 'IT WAS POSSIBLE TO ENTER CERTAIN POINTS IN THE CLOSED AREA,INCLUDING THE SEAFRONT TOWARDS DHERINIA CLOSE TO THE GREEN LINE' but that the Turkish Army have since then then banned all outsiders.This is very interesting as it was generally presumed that all of the closed area was off-limits since 1974,although I know there was a bar operating by the Venus Beach Hotel near Kalamies taverna,but access was apparently only for the Turkish Military and their familes and T.R.N.C. citizens-I don't know if it is working this summer though?There were some postings on the subject on this site last year by people who had been there.I think access was by using the Ayios Memnon turn-off from the road towards Dherinia?That would be a fascinating drive!

[Nikitas]

And what will the guides tell the tourists about the reason for the town being evacuated and kept empty since 1974?

It would be a monumental idiocy to advertise their contempt for human rights. But if they want to do it, who am I to argue!

[cymart]

That's a good reply Nikitas!Actually the T.C.Guides feel very strongly that Varosha should be returned to the G.C's as a goodwill gesture which will benefit the whole town,including the Old City-there are also other T.C. organisations who hold similar views and one of them held a symbolic march a couple of weeks ago so the more encouragement the better!Meanwhile there are press reports today that Turkey has allocated the T.C's 500.000 euros to renovate the water pipes in the closed area,but it will need much more than that and in any case would be pointless unless a general renovation plan is prepared first.The sad truth is that most buildings in Varosha are beyond renovation anyway.....

[humanist]

I guess that's what you get a mouchktari to run a statelet of 55,000 people who still think they are in the 1570's lol. Wake up TC's before you get lost amongst the settler crows.