2004 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2004 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Background
- By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created the independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovreignty and jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers in
- is the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the Western Sovereign Base Area.
- total
- Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The southernmost and smallest of these
Geography
Area
- note
- includes a salt lake and wetlands
- total
- 123 sq km
Area - comparative
about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
Environment - current issues
shooting around the salt lake; note - breeding place for loggerhead and green turtles; only remaining colony of griffon vultures is on the base
Geographic coordinates
34 37 N, 32 58 E
Geography - note
British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus
Location
peninsula on the southwest coast of Cyprus
Map references
Middle East
People and Society
Population
- no indigenous inhabitants
- there are another 5,000 British citizens who are families of
- note
- approximately 1,300 military personnel are on the base; note -
Government
Capital
Episkopi; also serves as capital of Dhekelia
Country name
- conventional long form
- Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area
- conventional short form
- Akrotiri
Dependency status
overseas territory of UK; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Executive branch
- appointed by the monarch
- PEARSON (since 9 May 2003) note - reports to the British Ministry of Defence
- chief of state
- Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952)
- elections
- none; the monarch is hereditary; the administrator is
- head of government
- Administrator Maj. Gen. Peter Tomas Clayton
Flag description
the flag of the UK is used
Legal system
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply
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.
Military and Security
Military - note
Akrotiri has a full RAF base, Headquarters for British Forces on Cyprus, and Episkopi Support Unit This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005 @Albania