Maraş beaches will be opened

TWO beaches and a tea garden in Maraş will be opened to the public, Gazimağusa Mayor İsmail Arter announced this week.

It is hoped that the easing of Covid-19 restrictions will lead to a summer boost in the number of sightseers, local and from abroad, visiting the parts of Maraş that were opened to the public for the first time in 46 years last October.

In an interview with Turkey’s Anadolu news agency, Mr Arter said that the Gazimağusa suburb of Maraş, also known as Varosha, can now be visited between the hours of 8am and 8pm.

“Although the pandemic has . . . slowed down the arrival of visitors, it has not slowed down our work,” he said.

“We know that since October 2020, more than 140,000 people have visited Maraş and walked along the routes on Kennedy and Demokrasi avenues.

“I hope the Maraş opening will have a positive impact on the Cyprus negotiation process and will contribute to the progress of both sides towards an agreement at the table.”

Mr Arter said that 2,000 people visited Maraş on the weekend after the opening of the checkpoints with South Cyprus on June 4.

Recalling that the “gradual opening process” of Maraş started with a “political” decision, Mr Arter noted that as Gazimağusa Municipality they are handling the “technical part of the job”.

He continued: “This summer we are opening two beaches in Maraş to serve the people. Anyone can come here. One will be an almost 500m beach in the area called the ‘Nation’s Garden’ or ‘picnic area’.

“We have placed 250 umbrellas here. Along with its snack bars, it will be a beach that will be used by people in the coming days.”

Stating that environmental cleanliness is “very important” Mr Arter noted that Gazimağusa Municipality has cleaned up the area in front of the “Greek Cypriot Secondary School” without touching its structure and architecture and that it will be used as a “tea garden”.

“Lanes were drawn on the two streets opened to visitors in Maraş,” he said. “There is no access to or interference with anyone’s private property.

“There is no need for Greek Cypriot people to be disturbed by this. What we are doing is cleaning and setting up public places. Our work will also continue.”

Mr Arter also announced that the Bilal Ağa Mosque in Maraş will be opened for worship once an ongoing restoration has been completed.

He stated that Gazimağusa Municipality has received “sufficient support” from Turkey during the opening process of Maraş and noted that Toki – the Housing Development Administration of Turkey – has made a “significant contribution in terms of technical and personnel” support.