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[Get Real!]

Cyprus MPs tell Britain: pay us for military basesBy Michele Kambas

NICOSIA (Reuters) - Cyprus's parliament on Thursday demanded Britain pay for the use of military bases on the Mediterranean island, saying London had accumulated four decades of debt likely to run into millions of pounds.

Britain, Cyprus's former colonial ruler, has two sprawling military compounds on the island that have in the past supported military operations in Iraq.

Cyprus says London has failed to make any payments for their use since 1965. Britain denies it has such an obligation, saying there is no question of paying for use of territory it still retains sovereign rights over.

In a show of hands, all factions in Cyprus's 56 member parliament urged the government to make claims on Britain.

"We propose the government make official representations to Britain to pay its dues. If there is a refusal there would be no alternative but a recourse to international courts," said socialist leader Yiannakis Omirou who triggered the debate.

The sovereign base areas comprise two compounds, which together make up about 98 sq miles on Cyprus's southern coast.

Under a 1960 independence treaty, Britain was to have offered financial aid to Cyprus, with a review in 1965. The review never happened because of a constitutional crisis on the island.

Britain says the aid was not related to use of the bases.

Cyprus has a presidential system and the parliamentary motion is not binding on the government.

Successive administrations since independence have appeared reluctant to broach the subject with Britain, even though it crops up in parliament every few years.

A parliamentary report said Britain gave Cyprus 12 million Cyprus pounds (14.5 million pounds) from 1960 to 1965, when payments stopped.

A spokesman for the British embassy in Nicosia said: "The United Kingdom is satisfied it has met all its financial commitments to the Republic of Cyprus under the treaty of establishment."

Britain has frequently cited a constitutional breakdown in 1963 as the reason for payments stopping. A power-sharing administration between Greek and Turkish Cypriots crumbled into violence in December that year, leaving Greek Cypriots alone in government.

It is recognised internationally as the only legitimate government of Cyprus. A breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in north Cyprus, carved out of territory Turkey invaded in 1974 after a brief Greek-inspired coup, is recognised only by Ankara.

"The breakdown of the bicommunal constitution meant it was no longer possible to ensure that both communities benefited from the aid," the British spokesman said.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/070419/3/47y47.html

[Niki]

I would have thought the business given to the Cypriot community by the bases will have well covered the costs.

[free_cyprus]

HAHAHAHAAH WHEN THEY DREW UP THE ZURICH AGREEMENT THIS IS WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT REGARDING TURKEY GREECE AND BRITAIN THEY ALL BENEFITED FROM CYPRUS EXCEPT US CYPRIOTS..................... AND THIS WILL CONTINUE

[Niki]

HAHAHAHAAH WHEN THEY DREW UP THE ZURICH AGREEMENT THIS IS WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT REGARDING TURKEY GREECE AND BRITAIN THEY ALL BENEFITED FROM CYPRUS EXCEPT US CYPRIOTS..................... AND THIS WILL CONTINUE

..and I am talking about the fact that Cyprus and Cypriots have benefited through trade of all kinds - property, food, drink, transport etc.

ONLY I DON'T SHOUT ABOUT IT!!

I don't necessarily agree with having the bases but they do bring revenue inot the country.

[free_cyprus]

Niki2410
ofcource they bring in funds. and its a small price to pay for having such a big chunk of our cyprus in the hands of british................ not only do we have it in the hands of british but we also have it in the hands of turks and greeks from the mainland.................. wny cypriots cannot even sneeze without askign greece and turkey if its ok to sneeze.............. but i gues you fail to see that dont you niki

[Get Real!]

I don't necessarily agree with having the bases but they do bring revenue inot the country.

Well, if we must look at it from a revenue standpoint then we would have to compare the bases against what we could've done with two very sizable pieces of real estate Niki.

[Niki]

I don't necessarily agree with having the bases but they do bring revenue inot the country.

Well, if we must look at it from a revenue standpoint then we would have to compare the bases against what we could've done with two very sizable pieces of real estate Niki.

True!

I'm certainly not going to defend the bases being in Cyprus as I said (maybe that bit was missed or glossed over) but the forces personnel buy a great deal of real estate around the base areas. Property is advertised as being suitable for the forces people.

[villawagen]

whats the problem with the bases in Cyprus anyway ?? its not like they are any kind of burden on the Cyprus people !!! on the contrary they sustain and support the lifestyle of thousands of Cypriots, who live and work within the infrastructure of those bases.
whoever would want the removal of the bases would have to be a complete mentalist, to subject Cyprus to such an economic catastrophe that would be caused by such an action.
Britain has very large us bases in the UK, do you think the British would like the removal of those bases ???? erm let me think ?? no they bloody wouldn't coz they pump millions of dollars in the community.

free Cyprus open your eyes dude, no Cypriot government is ever going to want the British bases removed :wink

[pitsilos]

Britain has very large us bases in the UK, do you think the British would like the removal of those bases ???? erm let me think ?? no they bloody wouldn't coz they pump millions of dollars in the community.

have you actually squeezed extra hard for this one?

[Get Real!]

whats the problem with the bases in Cyprus anyway ?? its not like they are any kind of burden on the Cyprus people !!! on the contrary they sustain and support the lifestyle of thousands of Cypriots, who live and work within the infrastructure of those bases.

The problem dear VW is that the Bases are a mutual agreement of give and take. One of the partners of this agreement is taking but not giving so what do you recommend Cyprus should do?