by Nikitas » Mon Feb 11, 2008 12:51 am
"What I am saying is that it isn't up to the GC's whether the bases stay or not,"
If the British have not kept up their part of the bargain, which was to pay some mkoney as rent, then that puts the status of the SBAs in doubt.
Any new arrangement which affects the status of the RoC, like the Annan plan, the EU constitution and any possible settlement deal, puts the SBAs in doubt since the new agreement dissolves the old status quo and replaces it with a new one. Which explains why Britain is among the staunchest supporters of the RoC. No RoC no bases. And explains why Britain is always quick to insert in any EU constitutional changes a clause about the SBAs.
The SBAs are exempt from EU regulations, just like Guantanamo is exempt from US law.