The partial reopening of Varosha’s beach area in 2020 was a highly controversial move by Northern Cyprus and Turkey. International observers, including the Republic of Cyprus, the EU, and the UN, condemned the decision as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions, which call for the return of Varosha to its lawful inhabitants. Though beach loungers now line the sand, ownership disputes remain unresolved, and the gesture is widely seen as a political provocation.