Cyprus Mail 15 June 2019 - article by Evie Andreou
Akrotiri air base
THE majority of opposition parties on Friday called for taking advantage of Brexit and the UN General Assembly decision asking Britain to give up control over the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean, in connection with the status of the British bases in Cyprus.
The issue was discussed at the House plenum on the suggestion of Diko’s parliamentary spokesman Panicos Leonidou.
Representatives of Diko, Edek, the Solidarity Movement and Elam said they were in favour of utilising Brexit and the Mauritius decision to claim the sovereign rights of the Republic.
Ruling Disy on the other hand, backs the government position which is not to raise such an issue at this stage.
Leonidou said that last February’s decision by of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Mauritius was an opportunity Cyprus could not miss.
Diko leader Nicolas Papadopoulos said that Brexit was of historic importance to Europe and especially Cyprus.
Papadopoulos said no other Cypriot government had in its disposal so many opportunities like the current one.
“Cyprus will be more affected than any other EU country,” he said, adding that the Brexit’s most important side effect would concern the people living within the bases while the problems would be more intense with a no-deal Brexit.
“Even if we come to an agreement on Brexit we will be ones to lose the most due to inaction and hesitation,” Papadopoulos said.
He wondered why no issue was raised at least on leasing the bases area.
The Solidarity Movement MP Michalis Giorgallas, said that “now is the time to demand a new agreement on the bases with a termination date on their presence in Cyprus.”
Edek MP Costis Efstathiou said that the bases constitute “an amputation of the territorial integrity of a state”.
Responding to those who believe that any claim from Britain would cause a crisis that could harm the solution of the Cyprus problem, he expressed the view that this attitude encourages London, “which is greying the EEZ.” He was referring to the statements by British Minister for Europe Sir Alan Duncan and of the UK Foreign Office about ‘disputed’ maritime areas around Cyprus, comments that have caused a rift with Nicosia.
“We can and must get rid of those who created the Cyprus problem,” Efstathiou said.
Akel leader Andros Kyprianou said that the bases are not directly linked with Brexit since the bases have been left outside the EU.
Kyprianou said his party has always argued that the bases constitute a violation of the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus but that the time to follow a similar process like that of Mauritius would come after a political decision and after assessing the situation as there are similarities but also differences.
“For some Brexit is an opportunity for demands but excessive expectations lead to mistakes,” he said.
The Akel leader said that Cyprus has to gain “only within the Brexit coordinates” adding that Britain too has pressure levers on Cyprus.
He also expressed the view that, by opening other fronts, “we are putting the Cyprus issue at increased risk. Attention should be focused on restarting talks after the Turkish provocation in the EEZ stop,” he said.
Disy MP Demetris Demetriou said that the top priority should be harmony and continuity in what is currently being implemented with Britain within the EU.
There is an agreement on reciprocity for workers and residents of the bases and citizens of the two states, he said.
In the case of a Brexit agreement, he said, all problems are resolved. If there is a messy Brexit a political agreement will be necessary between the two sides, he said, adding that Britain does not want a change on what has been agreed on the bases.
He also expressed the view that it is important to make a smooth transition to the post-Brexit era, as it is important to capitalise on the developments and the decision on Mauritius, he said.
