Last modified: 2002-10-19 by ivan sache
Keywords: cyprus | royal air force | sovereign base areas | united nations organization |
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Cyprus gained its independence only in exchange for the creation of three British military bases on its territory: these are the base of Akrotiri, the base of Dhekelia and the Mount Olympus hearing centre on top of the Troodos Mountains. The British law is the only law there.
Source: Le grand guide de Chypre (editions Gallimard, 1993)
Pascal Vagnat 23 November 1995
An item on this from Colours of the Fleet:
"The two Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus are administered by the
Commander British Forces on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, and
not by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. At one time the
RAF Ensign was taken to be the de-facto
national flag of the Sovereign Base Areas because of local political
sensitivity to the use of the Union Flag in Cyprus."
David Prothero 26 May 1999
The British Sovereign Bases are a remnant of the British Empire
and are, as their name implies, British territory, and so the Cyprus
flag would only be flown as a courtesy "foreign" flag.
I believe initially the RAF Ensign was used, at least on the "control
points" (which were no real control at all) as it was believed that
the Union Jack would upset the Cypriots, coming so soon after our
disagreement with them.
Graham Bartram 26 May 1999
I will take a better look next time but I am quite sure there were Union Jacks and not RAF flags. The main road from Limassol to Paphos in crossing Akrotiri region and the main road from Larnaca to Ayia Napa is crossing the Dhekelia region. Both regions are British and when you enter them you are passing a check point (which does not check anything) in which they hoist the Union Jack.
Dov Gutterman 26 May 1999
The United Nations Peacekeeping Force and the British Sovereign
Bases are two completely different entities:
The United Nations Force would use the United Nations flag but might
also fly their own national flag at their bases, and possibly on
their vehicles (although the United Nations flag should have
prominence), but these would only be for identification, not as a
claim of sovereignty. The United Nations bases are still Cypriot
territory, so it would be proper to fly the Cyprus flag there as well
as the national flag.
Graham Bartram 27 May 1999
The only flag that I saw there was the United Nations one. However
on few vehicels there are small stickers of national flags.
I didn't saw any Cyprus flag at the United Nations camps. I think it
is not "politically correct" to do so since it could be interpateted
as some kind of supporting one side.
Dov Gutterman 27 May 1999
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