Akrotiri and Dhekelia are UK Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) on Cyprus, a former British Crown Colony. Akrotiri is located in the south of the island near the city of Limassol (or Lemesos). Dhekelia is in the southeast near Larnaca. Both of these areas include military bases as well as farmland and some residential land.
Akrotiri is surrounded by the territory controlled by the Republic of Cyprus, but Dhekelia also borders on the UN buffer zone and the territory controlled by the Turkish occupied part of the island.
The SBAs, contain the only fully fledged RAF station in the Mediterranean (since Gibraltar does not have any aircraft permanently based there), RAF Akrotiri.
In addition to the garrison, the UK makes a contribution to the United Nations force in Cyprus. In total, some 3,500 British personnel are based in Cyprus.
The boundries of the SBAs are marked by white pillars, there are roads running through the territory and through the military camps, which are open to traffic from Cyprus. Civilian laws are enacted by the British civilian authorities, but are patterned on those of the Republic of Cyprus.
Many Cypriots work in the SBAs, mainly for the British authorities or as farmers, or for a few local businesses. However only those Cypriots with a local connection are permitted to live within the SBAs, such as those from Akrotiri village or from the outskirts of villages neighbouring the bases. The villages of Xylotimbou and Ormidhia, are enclaves surrounded by Dhekelia SBA, and are part of the Republic of Cyprus and subject to Cypriot law. |
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Akrotiri SBA - Click to enlarge |
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Dheklia SBA - Click to enlarge |
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| The SBAA is responsible for protection of the environment in the bases and works closely with the relevant Cypriot Republic departments. A joint exercise protects breeding loggerhead and green turtles on the beaches within the WSBA. The only remaining colony of griffon vultures on Cyprus is on the cliffs at Episkopi in the WSBA, and there is a large colony of Eleanora’s falcons both here and on the cliffs bordering the Royal Air Force station at Akrotiri. The most important wetland on the island of Cyprus, Akrotiri salt lake, lies within the WSBA and is proposed as a Ramsar wetland site of international importance.
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| The flag of the United Kingdon, the Union Flag. Blue field with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) edged in white superimposed on the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), which is superimposed on the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland). Properly known as the Union Flag, but commonly called the Union Jack; the design and colors (especially the Blue Ensign) have been the basis for a number of other flags including other Commonwealth countries and their constituent states or provinces. |
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| The Sovereign Base Area (SBA) of South-Eastern Cyprus includes the airfield of Akrotiri, which was first opened in 1956. The RAF use the airfield as a staging post for transport aircraft, and as a temporary operating base for aircraft carrying out Armament Practice Camps. The RAF Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, also use the airfield every year for their display work up. Permanently based at Akrotiri is No 84 Squadron who perform Search and Rescue duties as well as a support role for the UN peacekeeping forces on the island with Griffin helicopters. |
The sovereign bases, cover 98 square miles (125 square kilometres), 47.5 around Akrotiri , the Western Sovereign Base Area (WSBA) and 50.5 around Dhekelia, the Eastern Sovereign Base Area (ESBA). Because they are run as military bases, the Sovereign Base Area Administration (SBAA) reports to the British Ministry of Defence in London rather than the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Nevertheless they are a British Overseas Territory with a civilian administration working under an Administrator who is Commander, British Forces Cyprus. The Chief Officer, Administrative Secretary, Resident Judge, Chief Constable and other senior officials are recruited from or seconded from UK departments. The administration of the Bases is driven by three main policy objectives: effective use as a military base; full co-operation with the Republic of Cyprus; and protection of those resident or working in the Bases.
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The British Army Garrison HQ at Dhekelia |
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| The Cypriot climate is typically Mediterranean with very hot summers in July and August. Most of the year is dry with unpredictable rains falling in December, January and February. Cyprus often suffers drought years and water is such a scarce commodity that it is frequently rationed. However this problem has been addressed by the construction of dams and desalination plants. |
| The British Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia comprise those parts of Cyprus which stayed under British jurisdiction and remained British sovereign territory when the 1960 Treaty of Establishment created the independent Republic of Cyprus. |
