Varosha, a district of Famagusta, Cyprus, was formerly a lively and flourishing holiday coastal resort, famed for its golden beaches and for attracting tourists and celebrities from around the globe. This documentary delves into how Varosha suddenly came to a standstill overnight, after the Turkish invasion and still, to this day, an ongoing occupation.
The enclosed city of Varosha had a population of more than 20.000 people in 1974. The Turkish army declared it a military zone and thus inaccessible to it’s European Union citizens, both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. Since then Varosha has been left in ruins, to become a ghost town and still, after 50 years, the right of return for its displaced residents, who are European Union citizens, seems to be a distant dream.
Years have turned into decades, but Varosha stands abandoned, untouched and empty, frozen in time. Despite the international community’s efforts to broker peace, progress has stalled. Varosha continues to be mentioned in talks but remains a symbol of the wider geopolitical deadlock, a reminder of unresolved issues.
The documentary focuses on the profound silence that now defines Varosha. Through a delicate balance of historical insight and present-day observation, it aims to illustrate not just the city’s physical desolation but the deeper loss of its soul and identity. It is a story of time standing still, a city holding its breath, and the silent hope for a future where Varosha can once again embody the vitality and harmony it once did.
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Euronews: Tonis Toumazis Interview
‘Varosha Europe’s Enclosed Town’ : A documentary based on facts, interviews and testimonials provided by respected personalities in multiple fields, who project the essence and the personality of Varosha the enclosed suburb of Famagusta.
The documentary constitutes a valuable source of information and through historical evidence, exceptional visual material depicting life in the city before the 1974 Turkish invasion, as well as in-depth testimonies, viewers can gain a thorough understanding of a series of events that led to the current issue of Varosha. Varosha, has been shut off since 1974, when the Turkish invasion declared it a military zone and thus, inaccessible for it’s residents. Varosha has been left in ruins, to become a ghost city and still, after 50 years the right of return for it’s displaced residents seems to be a distant dream.
‘Varosha Europe’s Enclosed Town’ is an idea of Tonis Toumazis, presented by Varosha International Initiative. Production: Green Olive Productions Ltd.
The Varosha International Initiative seeks to raise awareness and awaken the international community about the issue of the enclosed city of Varosha in Cyprus about a city that is there to rise from ruins to life.
SCREENING ORGANIZED BY MEP LOUCAS FOURLAS
You are invited to a documentary screening, focusing on the history and current status of the fenced-off city of Varosha in Cyprus. A production of Tonis Toumazis, founder of Varosha International Initiative, in collaboration with Green Olive Productions in an effort to inform the international community about the ongoing, unacceptable violation of human rights in this European city.
The enclosed city of Varosha had a population of more than 20.000 people in 1974. The Turkish army declared it a military zone and thus become inaccessible to it’s European Union citizens, both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. Varosha has been left in ruins, to become a ghost town and still, after 50 years, the right of return for its displaced residents, who are European Union citizens, seems to be a distant dream.
The ‘Varosha Europe’s Enclosed Town’ documentary is interspersed with interviews of prominent personalities who project the soul of Famagusta and it was produced with the aim to raise awareness and disseminate information on the outstanding issue of Varosha, throughout the European Union and all over the world – awakening the international community about a city that is there, yearning to rise from ruins to life.
P.O.Box 51269, 3035 Limassol, Cyprus.
Tel.: +357 25833030, Email: info@varoshaeu.com
www.VaroshaEU.com
