BC Numismatics,
Your Answer:
Andros,the Sovereign Base Areas are legally established under the terms of the Cyprus Independence Agreement of 1959.Of course,Cyprus is a republic.The S.B.A.s aren't a monarchy, but 2 British colonies that are under a common British military administration, whose Administrator is formally appointed by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
Thank you for the recap BC, but I feel that I should explain my thoughts with regards to my aim on the Cyprus issue and the "Conflicting" issues regarding what you've mentioned in quotes above.
Firstly, I am seeking a Cyprus Solution with no borders, constituent states, component states and no- "treaty of Guarantee" for all. If we (all Cypriots), and President Christofias, is seeking a unified Cyprus with no-borders and restrictions, just "one" sovereignty and one international representation, then I am afraid we can not also accept double-standards with the inclusion of the British "Sovereign" area in a final agreement. Let me explain.....
In simple words, we can not argue with Turkey in a UN negotiated process to send back their troops, not include a "Treaty of Guarantee" of Turkey, Greece and the UK, while harbouring two British bases on the island!
Those two so-called British "Sovereign" areas will always be used by Turkey as an example of double-standards in any proposed "Unification" deal we throw at them. As I have said in the past, I am seeking a Cyprus unification deal where all Cypriots live with No external intervention, no legally constitutional threat of military intervention and no foreign military stations on the island. How can we seek a pure federal solution if, from day one, we start including lines of legal articles about "two sovereign" British bases, and the right for Turkey to intervene in event of inter-communal clashes and etc, etc.
Therefore, a unification deal must either be "across the board" or none at all - that is my theory, and probably President Christofias' as well. Also, and knowing the way Turkey works and what they are expecting as a base-minimum, if a unification agreement does not include at least the treaty of Guarantee and two constituent type of states similarly to the former "Annan Plan", then I think President Christofias will ultimately hit a brick wall.
NON-ACCEPTABLE TERMS:
If we keep on referring to the laws and rights of the 1960 treaty only in a "Future" unification deal, then we will also lose. It must be a new plan, a hybrid or all that has happened and based on EU Principles, and not just on historical signed aging non-practical out-of-date agreements. I strongly believe that a unification deal must, and can only succeed, if Turkey is cornered into understanding that an "EU" approach to unification must be based on good-will, freedom,
No guarantorship clause in its constitution,
No threat of military intervention on EU territory,
No foreign soldiers and
No British Military so-called sovereign areas. It must not include any of these. Like Mauritius, an island of peoples, regardless of their historical connection to a so-called motherland.
Alternatively, and this is only my view (although, according to a recent interview with Christofias by the Cyprus Mail in late 2007 it sounds like our President also agrees that if a new UN plan includes even one of the mentioned non-acceptable terms above, he would also not accept unification), I would personally prefer partition of three states - The Republic of Cyprus, a Turkish Cypriot State, and your so-called British Sovereign Area.
In that case, Turkey can intervene legally in as much as it wants in a Turkish Cypriot State only, at least we Greek Cypriots will be rid of such unacceptable terms.
The above is only some of the reasons why our people had vote "No" to the former "Annan Plan 5", and disagree with the
Turkish Cypriot leaders most recent call for a UN process
based on the Annan Plan 5. If this is what Mr Talat believes will be the foundation of future negotiations, I hope that President Christofias will quickly put him in his place.
Sorry all - but it's got to be all or nothing to me: I wish for a unified republic of Cyprus, and not one with more restrictions and derogations than a prison camp!
