Abandoned Cyprus

The beautiful Mediterranean island of Cyprus has a long and chequered history. Of great strategic importance, located as it is, just a stones-throw from the Middle East, it has been fought over for centuries and has at various times been under the occupation of Greece, Persia, Rome, England, Venice, the Ottoman Empire (Turkey), and the British Empire, to name but a few. However, the purpose of this story is not a deep-dive into the turbulent history of the sun-kissed island. Suffice it to say that, by the 1970s, Cyprus was an independent nation with a population made up of Greek Cypriots, who formed the majority, and a smaller number of Turkish Cypriots.

The two communities rubbed along in relative harmony until 15 July 1974 when a Greek led coup d’état ousted the incumbent president, Archbishop Makarios III, in order to unite the island with Greece. In response, on 20 July 1974 Turkey invaded Northern Cyprus, on the pretext of defending the rights of the Turkish Cypriot community, initially landing 6,000 troops as well as tanks and other armoured vehicles. The Turkish air force bombed Greek positions and also dropped hundreds of paratroopers in the area between the capital, Nicosia, and the resort of Kyrenia to the north. By the time a ceasefire had been agreed, Turkey had landed 30,000 troops on the island. However, the Greek regime was short lived and constitutional order was soon restored, with Glafkos Clerides being installed as the new president of the still independent island.

With the justification for the invasion removed, the United Nations and the international community called for peace negotiations, however, Turkey instead staged a second invasion on 14 August 1974. By the time international pressure was brought to bear, Turkey had occupied almost 37% of the island and 200,000 Greek Cypriots had been forcibly evicted from their homes in the north, and 50,000 Turkish Cypriots were displaced from their homes in the south of Cyprus. Most tragically of all, however, 1,534 Greek Cypriots and 502 Turkish Cypriots were missing as a result of the fighting. Many of their bodies have never been found. Despite international condemnation, Turkey did not withdraw, and instead created the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The republic is not recognised by the international community and is, even now, considered to be an illegal occupation.

To this day Cyprus, and its capital city of Nicosia, remain divided. Indeed, since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1991, Nicosia is the world’s only divided capital city, and passports must be shown in order to move between the two sides. There are also a couple of other anomalies that resulted from the Turkish occupation of Northern Cyprus that still exist today. Prior to 1974, Famagusta was not only the number-one tourist destination in Cyprus, but one of the most popular in the world. The rich and famous frequented its beaches and hotels. Regular visitors included celebrities such as Raquel Welch, Brigitte Bardot, Elizabeth Taylor, and Richard Burton. The main tourist area of the city was called Varosha, and boasted many modern high-rise hotels such as The King George Hotel, The Grecian Hotel, and The Florida Hotel, which adorned John F. Kennedy Avenue, an esplanade which ran parallel to the splendid Glossa Beach, with views out to Protaras and Fig Tree Bay.

Following the Turkish invasion in 1974, Famagusta found itself in the occupied sector and, fearing a massacre, the entire population of 39,000 fled Varosha, intending to return when hostilities ended. However, when the invading army took control of Famagusta, they fenced off Varosha, refusing to let anyone enter. Despite a UN Resolution requiring it to be handed over to the administration of the United Nations, Turkey refused to comply, instead using it as a bargaining tool in negotiations towards the international recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. To this day Varosha remains a ghost town. Without human occupation, the city has begun to be reclaimed by nature, and without maintenance, the once opulent buildings continue to crumble and decay. Boat and coach trips bring tourists to view the deserted resort from vantage points, but entry remains strictly prohibited.


Varosha as it is Today

Prior to the invasion, Nicosia Airport was the only international airport on the island, and included a modern, busy terminal building, serving holidaymakers and business travellers alike. On 20 July 1974, the airport was heavily bombed by the Turkish air force, necessitating its immediate and permanent closure. Following the ceasefire in August 1974, the airport became part of the United Nations controlled Buffer Zone, separating the Greek and Turkish communities, which remains in place today. Consequently, Nicosia International Airport is now the aviation equivalent of a ghost town. The derelict terminal building that once thronged with passengers is now frequented only by pigeons, and a stranded Cyprus Airways Hawker-Siddeley Trident passenger jet sits forlornly on the tarmac, still patiently awaiting its next complement of passengers.


Abandoned Passenger Terminal

Still Awaiting Departure

A new international airport was hastily constructed in Larnaca, and opened for business in 1975. A second international airport followed in Paphos in 1983. On the occupied side of the island, the Turkish Cypriot community opened Ercan International Airport in 2004. However, as this is not recognised by Cyprus or the international community as a legal entry or exit point, only flights to and from Turkey use this facility.

Today, Cyprus remains a popular destination for holidaymakers from Europe and beyond, with major tourist resorts on the Greek side of the island at Paphos, Limassol and Larnaca, plus many charming smaller villages, beaches, and bays for visitors to enjoy. There is also much for lovers of history to explore. The Turkish side of the island remains less developed, although Kyrenia is a beautiful port well worth visiting, and Famagusta is a vibrant city, except of course for Varosha, where only the ghosts of those long departed jet-setters wander today.

Sources:
https://cool interesting stuff.com/abandoned-Nicosia-international-airport
https://cool interesting stuff.com/Varosha-the-abandoned-resort
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varosha,_Famagusta
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicosia_International_Airport
Stavroula Michael