Nicosia, Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides said on Friday that nothing has been ruled out regarding the future of the United Kingdom’s bases in Cyprus. He made the remarks after being asked about the issue following earlier meetings in Nicosia.
Christodoulides comments after meetings
Christodoulides was asked about the matter upon his arrival at the headquarters of the health insurance organisation (HIO), after earlier holding a meeting at the presidential palace with Blaise Metreweli, the head of the UK’s secret intelligence service MI6. No statements were made after that meeting, and Christodoulides later offered no further details.
Akrotiri base and its status
The UK’s Akrotiri air force base was hit by an Iranian-made drone in the early hours of Monday morning. The base is sovereign British territory, having never been incorporated into the Republic of Cyprus when the remainder of the island was given independence in 1960. The status of the bases has remained unchanged since then.
2003 offer linked to Annan plan
The UK government of the day offered to surrender almost half of the territory encompassed by the bases if the island had been reunified under the 2004 Annan plan. “The offer is being made to maximise the chances of a settlement being accepted by both sides,” the UK’s foreign office said in 2003. Tassos Papadopoulos, the president of the day, described the offer as “more than welcome” and said, “We’ve always said that the bases were a part of the price of winning our independence.”
Referendum outcome and continued division
In 2004, Papadopoulos was instrumental in the campaign for the plan to be rejected at a referendum. Almost two-thirds of Turkish Cypriots voted in favour of the plan, while over three quarters of Greek Cypriots voted against it. The plan was not implemented and Cyprus remains divided.
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