Introduction
Background
By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created the independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovereignty and jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers - Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The southernmost and smallest of these is the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the Western Sovereign Base Area.
Geography
Location
Eastern Mediterranean, peninsula on the southwest coast of Cyprus
Geographic coordinates
34 37 N, 32 58 E
Area (sq km)
total: 123 sq km
note: includes a salt lake and wetlands
Area - comparative (sq km)
about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries (km)
total: 48 km
border countries: Cyprus 48 km
Coastline (km)
56.3 km
Climate
temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
Environment - current issues
hunting around the salt lake; note - breeding place for loggerhead and green turtles; only remaining colony of griffon vultures is on the base
Geography - note
British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus; of the Sovereign Base Area (SBA) land, 60% is privately owned and farmed, 20% is owned by the Ministry of Defense, and 20% is SBA Crown land
People and Society
Languages (%)
English, Greek
Population
approximately 15,700 live on the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia including 7,700 Cypriots, 3,600 Service and UK-based contract personnel, and 4,400 dependents evolution and prospects (1950-2100)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Akrotiri
Dependency status
a special form of UK overseas territory; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus
Capital
name: Episkopi Cantonment (base administrative center for Akrotiri and Dhekelia)
geographic coordinates: 34 40 N, 32 51 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Constitution
presented 3 August 1960, effective 16 August 1960; amended 1966 (The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order in Council 1960, serves as a basic legal document) (2013)
Legal system
laws applicable to the Cypriot population are, as far as possible, the same as the laws of the Republic of Cyprus; note - the Sovereign Base Area Administration has its own court system to deal with civil and criminal matters
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Administrator Major General Richard CRIPWELL (since January 2013); note - reports to the British Ministry of Defense; the Chief Officer is responsible for the day-to-day running of the civil government of the Sovereign Bases
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; the administrator appointed by the monarch
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Senior Judges' Court (consists of several visiting judges from England and Wales)
judge selection and term of office: judges appointment and tenure NA
subordinate courts: Resident Judges' Court; Courts Martial
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description
the flag of the UK is used
National anthem
note: as a United Kingdom area of special sovereignty, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)
Economy
Economy - overview
Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military and their families located in Akrotiri. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Exchange rates
Currency converter
note: uses the euro
Communications
Broadcast media
British Forces Broadcast Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel satellite TV service as well as BFBS radio broadcasts to the Akrotiri Sovereign Base (2009)
Military
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the UK; Akrotiri has a full RAF base, headquarters for British Forces Cyprus, and Episkopi Support Unit
Largest cities of Akrotiri
These are the 50 largest cities of Akrotiri ordered based on their number of inhabitants.
| # | City | Population |
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