Cyprus beach resort loved by Elizabeth Taylor and Brigitte Bardot to reopen for first time since 1974 conflict
- Authorities in Northern Cyprus said Varosha, the abandoned resort in no-man’s land, would be reopened ahead of Sunday’s elections, bringing tourism benefits
- Move was condemned by Greek Cypriots and stirs up memories of the Turkish invasion that saw the island partitioned
Authorities in Northern Cyprus said they would reopen the beach area of an abandoned resort in no-man’s land on Thursday, a move condemned by Greek Cypriots and likely to conjure up memories of the 1974 Turkish invasion that partitioned the island.
Ersin Tatar, premier of the breakaway state of Northern Cyprus, made the announcement in Ankara alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who said he backed the decision on Varosha, which in the 1960s was a playground of the rich and famous but has, for decades, been sealed off behind barbed wire.
The move could weigh on Turkey’s dispute with European Union members Cyprus and Greece over territorial rights in the Eastern Mediterranean. Tensions had eased after Ankara and Athens agreed to resume talks.
“God willing, we will start to use the Maras beach on Thursday morning together with our people,” Tatar said, using Varosha’s Turkish name. Northern Cyprus is only recognised as a state by Turkey.
“We hope that the whole of Maras is opened to use after ongoing work is completed by respecting property rights,” Erdogan said, pledging support for Turkish Cypriot officials.