Bases row,
THE President and the government united this week in their condemnation of the agreement between the UK and the South, to hand control of a large part of Britain’s Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) to the Greek Cypriots.
Since Cyprus was granted independence in 1960, Great Britain has controlled three per cent of the island — around 254 square kilometres – as sovereign territory, technically part of the UK. The agreement concerns 18 square kilometres in Akrotiri in Limassol, and Dhekelia, Larnaca.
On Tuesday, British High Commissioner Stephen Lilly signed the new agreement with Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades, following an accord made between Anastasiades and then British prime minister David Cameron in 2014. It allows 12 thousand residents within the designated areas, covering three municipalities and 16 villages, to sell and develop land which previously could only be used for agriculture.
The deal, hailed as a “milestone,” by the Greek Cypriot administration, is the first major change to SBA areas for sixty years and is likely to lead to a development boom.
Apart from housing, the land can be used for tourism, commercial, industrial, and large-scale developments like schools, theme parks, sports and entertainment centres, and hospitals or other health facilities.
Smaller scale developments such as petrol stations, restaurants, reception halls, and others will also be permitted.
“The agreement constitutes the biggest change in land use and development of various zones inside the bases since the foundation of the Republic of Cyprus,” Anastasiades said.
High Commissioner Stephen
Lillie said the discussions between the sides were complex but they showed the commitment of the two countries to developing bilateral ties, and finding new areas of cooperation.
“This agreement means that, as far as possible, residents in the bases will now enjoy the same rights as Cypriots living in the Republic to sell and develop their land,” Lillie said.
On Thursday, President Mustafa Akıncı received High Commissioner Lillie at the Presidency. Mr Akıncı said he had “reiterated the objections of the Turkish Cypriot side” on the matter, because it “concerns the rights and responsibilities of the Turkish Cypriot side and changes have been made without the consent and the changes are not acceptable”.
Prime Minister Ersin Tatar said: “The SBAs were formed through an international Treaty which was signed in 1960 by the Turkish Cypriots, the Greek Cypriots. . . who have equal rights that founded the Republic of Cyprus State. . .together with the signatories [of] Turkey, Greece and Great Britain.
“Whilst this reality is there, the UK should not be taking unilateral decisions and enforcing them without the consent of the sides directly related to the Cyprus issue.
“As everyone knows, there are Turkish Cypriots who live inside the Dhekelia British base boundaries and their legal representative and protector of their rights is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. It is out of the question for the rights of Turkish Cypriots to be protected by the Greek Cypriot side.”
Deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Kudret Özersay, reacted: “The territory in question does not only belong to the Greek Cypriot people, but Turkish Cypriot people.
The statement said that the British bases “gained status” following the Treaty signed by the three guarantor powers as well as the two leaders of Cyprus.
“No one should expect the changes to bind the Turkish Cypriots. . .for the changes made without our knowledge, without any negotiation or consent.” His statement warned that the move “risks putting the two peoples on the island into direct confrontation”.
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy called the move “unacceptable”. “As we stated in 2014. . .it is unacceptable that a timely consultation was not done with guarantor Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side. . .which are signatories of the 1960 Treaty.
“Under this framework, we support the statements by the TRNC. This region does not only have Greek Cypriot, but also immovable property, indispensable rights and privileges of Turkish Cypriots.”
He also slammed the UK for “once again ignoring the existence of Turkish Cypriots” and for not acting in a balanced manner, acting against “the principle of political equality and harming efforts for a solution.”