The status of the United Kingdom\u2019s two sovereign bases in Cyprus is \u201cnot up for negotiation\u201d, British undersecretary of state for the armed forces Al Carns said on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to be really clear on this, the legal status of the sovereign base areas is rock solid,\u201d he told British newspaper the Daily Telegraph.<\/p>\n
Instead, he said, the UK is working with the Cypriot authorities to ensure that the island is defended from external threats.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we\u2019re seeing because of the threat that has been posed, for the first time in a long time, is the Cypriots, the Brits, and other allies coming together to work on an integrated plan to defend the capabilities here,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He added to this end that \u201cI think we\u2019ll see a lot of positives\u201d, before returning to the matter of the bases\u2019 status and reiterating that while \u201cwe can understand some of the frictions\u201d, there will be no change to the bases\u2019 status.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reality is the legal basis of these sovereign territories is non-negotiable,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Carns\u2019 comments come in direct contravention of those made by President Nikos Christodoulides, who had last month promised that \u201cwe are going to have an open and\u00a0frank discussion<\/a>\u00a0with the British government\u201d over the future of the bases.<\/p>\n Shortly afterwards, the European Council<\/a>\u00a0had declared that it\u00a0stands ready to assist\u201d the Cypriot government in discussions regarding the bases\u2019 future and stating that it \u201cacknowledges the intention of Cyprus to initiate a discussion with the UK\u201d on the matter.<\/p>\n Later, deputy government spokesman Yiannis Antoniou said that\u00a0the government has sought and received\u00a0legal advice<\/a>\u00a0regarding the treaty which established the bases, adding that \u201cthe issue of security is complex and will be the subject of discussion with the British side\u201d.<\/p>\n The Treaty of Establishment of the Republic of Cyprus entered force in 1960, having been signed by the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities of the day Archbishop Makarios III and Dr Fazil Kucuk, who would go on to become the republic\u2019s first president and vice president.<\/p>\n Its first article states that \u201cthe territory of the Republic of Cyprus shall comprise the island of Cyprus, together with the islands lying off its coast,\u00a0with the exception of the two areas \u2026 which shall remain under the sovereignty of the United Kingdom\u201d \u2013 the base areas in Akrotiri and Dhekelia.<\/p>\n In a later article, the same treaty states that \u201cthe United Kingdom authorities shall have the right for United Kingdom military aircraft to fly in the airspace over the territory of the Republic of Cyprus without restriction other than to have due regard for the safety of other aircraft and the safety of life and property in the Republic of Cyprus\u201d.<\/p>\n More recently, Kourion mayor Pantelis Georgiou had said he believes that\u00a0communications antennae installed at the base may be linked to an elevated\u00a0risk of cancer<\/a>\u00a0and said that like the central government, he, too, is seeking legal advice regarding the British government\u2019s plans.<\/p>\n