Cyprus-Forum.com

[repulsewarrior]

...nothing is better than no Armed Forces on the island; as an offensive threat, there would be none.

...quite simply, if Cyprus is to remain militarised, then its purpose should be broadened in a manner where three Continents can stand United with Cypriots in defense against what affects them all.

[Sotos]

Cyprus should have its own armed forces like most other countries! About Palestinians ... wasn't it again the British and the Americans who created the Jewish state and they supported it ever since even after the Israelis occupied Palestinian territories? The British did nothing to protect Cyprus from the Turks and nothing to protect the Palestinians from the Jews. Probably the opposite is true! Their presence in our area is purely Imperialistic and not at all altruistic!

[Robin Hood]

Cyprus should have its own armed forces like most other countries! About Palestinians ... wasn't it again the British and the Americans who created the Jewish state and they supported it ever since even after the Israelis occupied Palestinian territories? The British did nothing to protect Cyprus from the Turks and nothing to protect the Palestinians from the Jews. Probably the opposite is true! Their presence in our area is purely Imperialistic and not at all altruistic!

Absolutely! If any body can screw it up, the British Governng classes can, I think they call it 'vested interests' and the same (even more so) applies to the US. But, even though I am British .... at least I am pragmatic about it and don't think we are Gods gift to humanity! Love us or hate us, we do have some good points ........... give me a while and I will try and think of one or two.

[Sotos]

Cyprus should have its own armed forces like most other countries! About Palestinians ... wasn't it again the British and the Americans who created the Jewish state and they supported it ever since even after the Israelis occupied Palestinian territories? The British did nothing to protect Cyprus from the Turks and nothing to protect the Palestinians from the Jews. Probably the opposite is true! Their presence in our area is purely Imperialistic and not at all altruistic!

Absolutely! If any body can screw it up, the British Governng classes can, I think they call it 'vested interests' and the same (even more so) applies to the US. But, even though I am British .... at least I am pragmatic about it and don't think we are Gods gift to humanity! Love us or hate us, we do have some good points ........... give me a while and I will try and think of one or two.

I can think of many good points about the British. Every nation has its good points and bad points ... but in this thread I am talking specifically about the bases which is something we are getting screwed and there are risks to our own lives because of them! If it wasn't for the Turkish occupation then our government would be active in trying to get the bases out or at least get some decent deal for them that would benefit Cyprus also. But because of the Turkish occupation our governments are afraid to say anything about the bases because that would make the British and the Americans even more pro-Turk

[kimon07]

Not just Iran. Brother Assad threatens also.

Assad to Annan: Syrian missiles will pre-empt any military intervention
…………..
“The Middle East has unknowingly been living for ten days under threat of a regional war, which DEBKAfile’s military sources disclose was delivered by Syrian president Bashar Assad to UN-Arab League peace envoy Kofi Annan when they first met Saturday, March 10. Assad warned him in no uncertain terms that Syria was ready to unleash its missiles against any country preparing for military intervention in Syria before they moved.

While not mentioning them by name, the Syrian ruler was referring to Britain, France, Norway, Holland and Italy whose navies and air forces were last week drawn up ready for action in positions in the eastern Mediterranean and bases in the Middle East, including the Royal Air Force Akrotiri facility in Cyprus.”

Read more.

http://www.debka.com/article/21841/

[georgios100]

No sovereign country on this planet accepts or tolerates foreign troops/bases on their soil, period.

Some people on this forum support the SBAs & their status to remain as is... these people are enemies to ROC, plain & simple. You may voice an opinion but in the end, it's the Cypriots themselves that count, not you.

Cypriots want ALL foreign troops and installations out of the island - no exceptions, for the simple reason, SBAs or Turkish, American, Israili are not for the best interest of the republic. They offer NOTHING to the ROC except a bullseye target for rogue states (Syria, Iran etc) to aim for.

[Robin Hood]

Sotos,

“............but in this thread I am talking specifically about the bases which is something we are getting screwed and there are risks to our own lives because of them! If it wasn't for the Turkish occupation then our government would be active in trying to get the bases out or at least get some decent deal for them that would benefit Cyprus also.”

You can’t have it both ways! Either they are an anathema, are a risk to the Republic and should go OR you want a better deal. I would argue though that, what ‘GreekIslandGirl’ stated and ‘Repulsewarrior’ supported, about Cyprus being at war with the British over these bases and that the situation is like the Israelis and Palestinians is not really a credible argument.

The British Bases came into existence as a foreign entity on Cypriot soil at the same moment in time as the Island of Cyprus became the Republic of Cyprus. The British bases were not taken by force of arms, nor is the occupation, in international law an illegal act. The same does not apply to the Turkish occupation which is clearly illegal and subject to several UN Resolutions, all of which Turkey ignores. Although we had our differences in the 50’s with EOKA, that was a long time ago and as an Brit I wil say that in my book EOKA was not a terrorist group but genuine freedom fighters. I regard Hamas and Hezbollah in much the same vein, they both came into existence to fight a foreign invader, and they still are.

Whilst the current arrangements for the British Bases may not be what the present generation of Cypriots would like and they would like to see the bases go, their presence is not an illegality. So, for me, renegotiation would be the sensible way to go. I believe it is an emotive subject and has been handled badly over the years. All this talk of being at ‘war’ does not help the situation.

One thing I have realised in the many years of living on the Island is that Cypriots tend to let their hearts rule their heads and appear to find it difficult to think things through. Hence there is often a build up of irrational animosity against the British Bases. There are benefits to Cyprus of having the bases here and there are draw backs.


Ah ..... I’ve thought of one of our more endearing features as a race ...... we have a sense of humour. (unfortunately you often have to be British to understand it ..... if you are American, you will never understand it!)

Georgios100:

Whether you like it or not the British Bases are here because of an agreement made some fifty odd years ago. That is simple fact. You do not have British troops patrolling your towns and villages as you would have if it were an US occupation. The UK is a declining World Power, but it still has a bit of clout around the World. Compare the situation here to the 700 bases the US has in over 70 different countries, most of them resulting from force of arms or shady deals with dictators and corrupt regimes. If Cyprus was subject to that I would agree with you 110%. I don’t know, apart from electronic surveillance and an occasional training ground for the Red Arrows (who I see are back again .... what recession!!) what the bases actually do but, one thing is for sure they are costing the British tax payers a hell of a lot of money for something.

[GreekIslandGirl]

Sotos,

“............but in this thread I am talking specifically about the bases which is something we are getting screwed and there are risks to our own lives because of them! If it wasn't for the Turkish occupation then our government would be active in trying to get the bases out or at least get some decent deal for them that would benefit Cyprus also.”

You can’t have it both ways! Either they are an anathema, are a risk to the Republic and should go OR you want a better deal. I would argue though that, what ‘GreekIslandGirl’ stated and ‘Repulsewarrior’ supported, about Cyprus being at war with the British over these bases and that the situation is like the Israelis and Palestinians is not really a credible argument.

You've misunderstood. We are at war with Turkey. This of course benefits Britain as it keeps us weakened; and as Sotos said, unable to expend any (political) force or pressure to remove the British Military, under these circumstances

[Robin Hood]

How this relates to British Bases - these are akin to Israel occupying Palestinian territory - just as you are insinuating Turkey is occupying Cypriot territory like the Jews occupy Palestinian territory.

With the Turks it is no insinuation, it is fact and you are correct, with the bases you are not. Turkey occupies Cyprus illegally, the UK reatains military basis by treaty, they have no military impact outside the bases except for transit between them. I have never even seen an armed guard at the bases and you never see them on Cyprus soil in uniform. So any similarity between the bases situation and the Israel/Palestine issue is not afair comparrison. But it is a fair comparrisson when looking at the situation with the Turkish occupying forces.

[Sotos]

You can’t have it both ways! Either they are an anathema, are a risk to the Republic and should go OR you want a better deal.

They should go unless there is a better deal which benefits both sides. For example the UK to pay rent for the land it occupies at market prices.

The British bases were not taken by force of arms, nor is the occupation, in international law an illegal act.

The whole Cyprus was taken like all other colonies and instead of allowing the whole Cyprus to be free 2 parts remained under occupation. We accepted this because we had no choice as we were blackmailed!

Compare the situation here to the 700 bases the US has in over 70 different countries, most of them resulting from force of arms or shady deals with dictators and corrupt regimes. If Cyprus was subject to that I would agree with you 110%.

That is how UK took the bases in Cyprus also. In Cyprus case it was even worst. If we didn't accept their terms no part of Cyprus would be freed! And how many of those USA bases are sovereign? I did a search and I couldn't find any info. When you do a search for "Sovereign Bases" all the first results are about the bases in Cyprus and the wikipedia article about SBAs says "The only two Sovereign Base Areas are located adjacent to the Republic of Cyprus which was formerly governed by the United Kingdom". I know that the US Bases in Crete are not sovereign but they are Greek territory and theoretically at least the Greek government can close them down whenever they want.... and they are nowhere as big!