Akrotiri and Dhekelia - A British Overseas Territory
Welcome to Akrotiri and Dhekelia, a patchwork of ancient cultures and modern tensions.
Akrotiri is situated in the southern part of Cyprus, near Limassol, while Dhekelia is in the eastern part of the island, close to Larnaca. Together, they cover an area of approximately 254 square kilometres.
The primary purpose of these territories is to support British military operations such as training, logistics, and intelligence gathering. The bases also serve as a forward operating location for British and NATO forces in the eastern Mediterranean.
The presence of the British military in Akrotiri and Dhekelia has significantly impacted the local communities and the environment. There have been occasional tensions between the UK authorities and the Cypriot government over land use, environmental protection, and sovereignty. However, both sides have generally maintained a cooperative relationship to ensure the smooth operation of the military bases.
Since it is a British Overseas Territory, it is not part of the European Union, as Cyprus joined the EU in 2004, and EU laws and regulations are not applicable, and residents of the territories are British citizens and are subject to British law.
History
The history of Akrotiri and Dhekelia is deeply intertwined with the broader historical narrative of Cyprus and the British Empire.
In the late 19th century, Cyprus was under Ottoman rule but was subsequently leased to the British Empire in 1878 in the Cyprus Convention. The strategic location of the island in the eastern Mediterranean made it an important asset for the British, particularly as a naval outpost as it was a key link on the route to British India.
During World War II, Cyprus became a significant military base for British forces in the region. The importance of Cyprus as a strategic asset was further solidified during the Cold War, particularly due to its proximity to the Middle East and its role in the geopolitics of the Eastern Mediterranean.
In 1960, Cyprus gained independence from British rule, but as part of the arrangements leading to independence, the UK retained sovereignty over two areas: Akrotiri and Dhekelia. These areas were intended to serve as military bases and were granted to the UK under the Treaty of Establishment.
Today, Akrotiri and Dhekelia remain strategically important for the UK, particularly in light of ongoing regional security challenges. They continue to play a significant role in British military operations in the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond, while also preserving a unique blend of British influence and local Cypriot culture.
People
The territory’s demography and culture are influenced by both British and Cypriot elements.
English is the primary language due to the British influence, but Greek is also widely spoken, reflecting the Cypriot culture. Akrotiri has 2 military bases and Akrotiri village district and 11 other villages. Dhekelia has one military area and 12 villages About 8000 native Cypriots live in these villages within the British territory. Military personal population is about 10,000.
Civilian Cypriots living in the area are eligible to claim the British Overseas Territory citizenship, but they are not British citizens and there for can’t visit or live in the UK using the territory citizenship. However, if they have the Republic of Cyprus passport, they could use that passport to get a visa.
People in the territory have a separate schooling system with elementary and secondary school, they have own police, fire and emergency services.
There is no borders or barriers separating the British territory form the Republic of Cyprus and they are road connect both area and when you drive there are no obvious sings separating these areas.
Most native Cypriots live in these area work for the base indirectly like provide some kind of services or contract to the military base and do small scale farming. Economic date from the territory is not gathered, so we don’t know how well they do financially. Akrotiri and Dhekelia is the only UK territory that uses euro as an official currency.
Смотрите видео Akrotiri and Dhekelia - A British Overseas Territory онлайн без регистрации, длительностью часов минут секунд в хорошем качестве. Это видео добавил пользователь Geography Nuts 27 Август 2024, не забудьте поделиться им ссылкой с друзьями и знакомыми, на нашем сайте его посмотрели 479 раз и оно понравилось 7 людям.