Greek Cypriots living in Thessaloniki, Greece held a silent rally on Sunday (October 11) against the reopening of Varosha beach.

The silent rally, which was held by students, lasted 46 minutes, in reference to the number of years the former resort town was abandoned.

Speaking on camera, Greek Cypriot student Michalis Chrysostomou said: "There is a second 'invasion' taking place on our lands by the Turks, they enter Varosha without any rights. We as students condemn this and show with our presence here that we have not forgotten and we will never forget what has happened on our island. We hope to return, every Cypriot civilian to their village and every (Turkish) settler to their country."

Last week, Turkey's military reopened Varosha beach to the public for the first time in 46 years. The resort town was abandoned by Greek Cypriots as Turkish troops advanced.

The move comes amid rising tensions between Turkey and Greece and Cyprus.

Greek Cypriots students living in Thessaloniki Greece held a silent protest for 46 minutes against the recent opening of Varosha town in Famagusta by Turkish occupation forces, who was deserted since 1974. Many of the students protesting are actually second-generation refugees from Famagusta since their parents fled the area after the Turkish army invaded the island 46 ago. Students held 46 minutes in silence protest, equal to the 46 years of occupation of their homeland. Footage shows candle balloons launched to the night sky by the students while a public projection shows films from the 1974 invasion of Cyprus by Turkey. "There is a second "invasion" taking place in our lands by the Turks, they enter Varosha without any rights. We as students criticize and show with our presence here that we have not forgotten and we will never forget what has happened on our martyric island. We hope to return, every Cypriot civilian to his village and every (Turkish) settler to return back to his country" said Greek Cypriot student Michalis Chrysostomou

Varosha town in Famagusta Cyprus had a population of 39.000 residents before it was sealed off, went to zero almost overnight, fenced off 46 years ago when Greek Cypriots were forced to flee invading Turkish forces sent in following an abortive attempt to unite Cyprus with Greece, it has remained a ghost town ever since. For its inhabitants at the time, what was once the island’s most cosmopolitan resort has become resonant of the pain and frustration associated with the failure of peacemakers to resolve the Cyprus problem.