Our View: Policy of talk and no action over Cyprus’ British bases suits everyone

After the drone strike on the British base in Akrotiri it was inevitable that the public debate about the presence of the sovereign bases would commence. This debate has become something of a tradition every few years, when something happens to bring attention to the existence of the British bases.

Strong words are said by politicians, newspaper columnists and attention-seeking lawyers about this colonial arrangement imposed on the Cyprus Republic when it became independent. The Cold War era Pancyprian Peace Council, which was set up by the Soviet Union and continues its anti-West protest to this day, also stages a demonstration against the imperialist bases. The debate and protests last a week or two and then the matter is laid to rest for a few years.

This time, the debate centred on the contention that Cyprus had become a target in the war on Iran because of the presence of British bases. It was the British base that Lebanon-based Hezbollah had targeted some 10 days ago and not Cyprus, despite the island’s strategic alliance with the United States and close ties with Israel. A legitimate argument that would have had more weight if the strikes by Hezbollah continued, but they did not, but the issue remains regardless.

The existence of sovereign bases in an independent country is an anachronism, politically and morally indefensible. While most Cypriots would like these bases removed, they are also aware that this is an extremely difficult undertaking as it cannot happen without the cooperation and, ultimately, consent of the UK government, which is in a very strong position legally. The sovereign bases are part of the Treaty of Establishment and since 2003, by vote of the Cyprus legislature, the status of the bases is enshrined in the primary law of the EU.

Everyone is aware of this, but still demands for the withdrawal of the bases, as if this could happen by popular demand. Only on Sunday, Akel chief Stefanos Stefanou called for the abolition of the bases because it is part of communist rhetoric. Even in the five years we had an Akel president, no attempt was made to get rid of the hated bases. Why?

In an article in the last issue of the Sunday Mail, academic Nasia Hadjigeorgiou, pointed out what has been always been evident, despite the noise made every few years. “There’s not much appetite among Greek Cypriot politicians to re-negotiate the bases’ status,” she said, also suggesting that the complaints about the Akrotiri security incident was a case of Cyprus “going through the motions, paying lip service.”

President Nikos Christodoulides and his spokesman came up with a stock response, that cleverly avoided the issue, to the question of whether the government would raise the issue of the withdrawal of the British Bases. “We do not rule out anything,” is the government line, which could also mean that we cannot rule out the government doing nothing about the bases, like all its predecessors.

The policy of a lot of talk and no action appears to suit everyone.