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The 'ghost city' of Cyprus

The once-glamorous resort of Varosha, in Cyprus, has stood empty and crumbling since the island was divided 50 years ago. Maria Margaronis hears about the struggle for its future.

The once glamorous Cypriot beach resort of Varosha has stood empty and frozen in time since war divided the island 50 years ago, but it is now partially open to tourists and there are hotly contested plans for its renewal.

Maria Margaronis speaks to Varosha's former inhabitants - mostly Greek Cypriots - who fled in 1974 when Turkish troops invaded the island and have been unable to return ever since, after Turkey fenced off the town as a bargaining chip for future peace negotiations.

Some of these Varoshians want to rebuild the resort together with the island's Turkish Cypriots - a potential model for diffusing hostilities across the whole island - and the UN says its original inhabitants must be allowed to return. But, following decades of failed peace talks, the internationally unrecognised Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which controls Varosha, now says it intends to re-open and redevelop the entire town.

Presenter: Maria Margaronis
Producer: Simon Tulett
Series editor: Penny Murphy
Studio Manager: Gareth Jones
Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman and Katie Morrison

Music credit: Michalis Terlikkas
(Image: Tourists among the empty buildings in the occupied ghost town of Varosha in Famagusta. Cyprus. Credit: Athanasios Gioumpasis/Getty Images)

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27 minutes

Last on

Sun 8 Sep 2024 15:06GMT

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  • Sun 8 Sep 2024 15:06GMT

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