Cyprus-Forum.com

[Nikitas]

Tim

It sounds very much like the Acheson plan. In practice it brings back those dark days of the early 60s when we ALL knew that both sides were arming to be ready for the showdown that eventually came in 1963. With a Turkish base on the island the temptation to be armed and ready just in case will surface all over again.

I think demilitarised in the sense offered by the Greek Cypriot side does not include the SBAs. They are a law unto themselves till they go I guess. But the rest of the island can be army free. In essence, given the proximity, he new Cyprus will be under Turkish military dominance. A destroyer doing cruising speed can get from Mersin to Cyprus in one hour. A jet can get there in two minutes and a helicopter in ten. Karpasia will be closer in terms of time to Turkey than to the Akrotiri base.

[Get Real!]

Unfortunately, as much I would love to see a totally demilitarised Cyprus, since America appears determined to continue with its current neo-imperialist adventure in the Middle East, and Britian shows no signs of abandoning its support for this venture, I don't see that getting rid of the British bases is an attainable medium-term goal, given Cyprus's proximity to the conflict zone. As such, dare I play devil's advocate and voice a suggestion that has long been at the back of my mind? How about offering Turkey a sovereign base similar to the SBAs in return for giving up the rest of the occupied territory? Unpalatable as this may seem, isn't it better for Turkey to have 2% of Cyprus than 38%? This would surely be enough to address Turkey's strategic defence concerns.

The notion that Cyprus would be "better" if totally demilitarized is utter rubbish. If anything Cyprus needs to join the regional arms race as much as she possibly can because it’s obviously the ONLY measure by which the rest of the world uses to evaluate any given entity. Justice and respect is easily awarded to those that can defend themselves and even more so if they can cause serious harm to others.

Finally, your suggestion to reward Turkish aggression with free bases on Cyprus PROVES what I've said in my previous paragraph.

[Nikitas]

Get Real,

Getting hold of weapons that can provide a deterrent force able to return a blow of equal devastation as one received might involve more effort and expense than Cypriot society is prepared to accept. Once you go above the ownership of tanks and start getting into technically advanced gear like ships, planes and missiles, things get expensive and technolgically demanding. Are you sure Cyprus has that capacity and political will?

[devil]

I have thoughts about the SBAs in my ideas but, going off at an unforeseen tangent, here's a thought from the top of my head:
one single base area (say, Akrotiri, because it has a strip) JOINTLY run by the guarantor powers in equal shares???

[CopperLine]

Just picking up on the military significance of Cyprus to outside powers : The British sovereign bases aside, I think that the military significance of Cyprus is too easily overstated. The US in particular has no need of Cyprus for basing, forwarding or intelligence gathering purposes. There is nothing that the geographical position of Cyprus offers the US militarily which is not already much better served by its other assets. It is to my mind inconceivable that Cyprus could offer anything which is not already provided to the US through NATO, let alone other regional or bilateral arrangements. So unless someone sees the end of NATO occurring within the forseeable future then Cyprus will remain militarily irrelevant to the US. (Sure if Syria decides to claim Cyprus then we're in a different ball game but I've never heard anyone suggest this !)

Cyprus's geo-strategic importance is not military. At most its geo-strategic importance relates to (1) its new found status as the closest EU gateway to the Middle East, and (2) territorial waters claims and economic zone claims.

Thus in terms of military significance Cyprus is almost irrelevant to the US. The biggest problem - other than the Turkish military - is without doubt the British sovereign bases. It is very difficult to see what essential or irreplaceable military function they fulfil for the UK. Nice posting ? Lovely Red Arrows training area ? Good R & R ? Yes, all these things but these are hardly essential or irreplaceable to the UK military.

[Nikitas]

Devil that is an interesting idea. Even if there is not a military presence by Greece and Turkey in Akrotiri but observers who can jointly monitor the demilitarisation of the rest of the island might be interesting.

[Get Real!]

Thus in terms of military significance Cyprus is almost irrelevant to the US.

I can't agree there...

Cyprus, under the British, has a very sophisticated satellite communications setup spying on the Middle East that the US heavily relies on. Ever wonder why the island is dotted with huge antennas?

Also, France’s role as UNIFIL leader in the Lebanon could have NEVER taken place had Cyprus not struck a deal with France and offer them air & sea bases in Paphos in exchange for Mistral technology.

[devil]

OK, as a temporary measure, one step further. UNFICYP replaced by a joint UK-Greek-Turkish force as the ONLY military entity on the island??? Coupled with the return of the SBAs to the island, of course.

[Get Real!]

Get Real,

Getting hold of weapons that can provide a deterrent force able to return a blow of equal devastation as one received might involve more effort and expense than Cypriot society is prepared to accept. Once you go above the ownership of tanks and start getting into technically advanced gear like ships, planes and missiles, things get expensive and technolgically demanding. Are you sure Cyprus has that capacity and political will?

Cyprus doesn't need more tanks or any other vehicles for that matter but an investment in short and mid-range missiles to place Istanbul and other Turkish cities under direct threat. Missile technology is NOT expensive at all and with the current 22+billion p/a she makes she is quite capable of establishing and maintaining a decent missile program. Or has she already?

[devil]

Get Real,

Getting hold of weapons that can provide a deterrent force able to return a blow of equal devastation as one received might involve more effort and expense than Cypriot society is prepared to accept. Once you go above the ownership of tanks and start getting into technically advanced gear like ships, planes and missiles, things get expensive and technolgically demanding. Are you sure Cyprus has that capacity and political will?

Cyprus doesn't need more tanks or any other vehicles for that matter but an investment in short and mid-range missiles to place Istanbul and other Turkish cities under direct threat. Missile technology is NOT expensive at all and with the current 22+billion p/a she makes she is quite capable of establishing and maintaining a decent missile program. Or has she already?

Not realistic. Remember the S-300s?