Britain has not discussed with Cyprus the use of Base in Akrotiri, Government says

Deputy Government Spokesman Victoras Papadopoulos has said that no discussion has been made concerning the utilization of the British Bases in Akrotiri, Cyprus, during a possible military operation against Syria.

In statements to the press, Papadopoulos noted that “if something like this happened we would have said it.”

He recalled a statement by Defence Minister Photis Photiou that there has been no hint on this issue, as well as a statement by Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides who confirmed that the Republic of Cyprus has not been notified on such an intention by the British government.

Asked if according to the protocol London must inform the Republic of Cyprus, Papadopoulos said that “it is customary to have a form of communication and we think that if Britain wants to use the Bases in any way it will inform the Republic of Cyprus, but until now it has not requested anything.”

He also noted that there has been no discussion as regards the utilization of “Andreas Papandreou” Air Force Base in Paphos.

Britain has retained two sovereign military bases on Cyprus at Akrotiri and Dhekelia since the island gained independence from British rule in 1960.

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