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Europe :: Dhekelia
(UK sovereign base area)
Page last updated on September 01, 2015
 
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Dhekelia

  • Introduction :: DHEKELIA

  • By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created the independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovereignty and jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers - Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The larger of these is the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the Eastern Sovereign Base Area.

  • Geography :: DHEKELIA

  • Eastern Mediterranean, on the southeast coast of Cyprus near Famagusta
    34 59 N, 33 45 E
    Middle East
    total: 130.8 sq km
    note: area surrounds three Cypriot enclaves
    country comparison to the world: 223
    about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
    total: 108 km
    border countries (1): Cyprus 108 km
    27.5 km
    temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
    netting and trapping of small migrant songbirds in the spring and autumn
    British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus; of the Sovereign Base Area land 60% is privately owned and farmed, 20% is owned by the Ministry of Defense, and 20% is SBA Crown land

  • People and Society :: DHEKELIA

  • English, Greek
    approximately 15,700 live on the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia including 7,700 Cypriots, 3,600 service and UK based contract personnel, and 4,400 dependents

  • Government :: DHEKELIA

  • conventional long form: none
    conventional short form: Dhekelia
    a special form of UK overseas territory; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus
    name: Episkopi Cantonment (base administrative center for Akrotiri and Dhekelia); located in Akrotiri
    geographic coordinates: 34 40 N, 32 51 E
    time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
    daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
    presented 3 August 1960, effective 16 August 1960; amended 1966 (The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order in Council 1960 serves as a basic legal document) (2013)
    laws applicable to the Cypriot population are, as far as possible, the same as the laws of the Republic of Cyprus; note - the Sovereign Base Area Administration has its own court system to deal with civil and criminal matters
    chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
    head of government: Administrator Air Vice Marshall Graham STACEY (since 4 November 2010); note - reports to the British Ministry of Defense
    elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; administrator appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Ministry of Defense
    highest court(s): Senior Judges' Court (consists of several visiting judges from England and Wales)
    judge selection and term of office: judges appointment and tenure NA
    subordinate courts: Resident Judges' Court; Courts Martial
    none (overseas territory of the UK)
    none (overseas territory of the UK)
    the flag of the UK is used
    note: as a United Kingdom area of special sovereignty, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)

  • Economy :: DHEKELIA

  • Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military and their families located in Dhekelia. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
    none
    note: uses the euro

  • Communications :: DHEKELIA

  • British Forces Broadcast Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel satellite TV service as well as BFBS radio broadcasts to the Dhekelia Sovereign Base (2009)
    AM NA, FM 1 (located in Akrotiri), shortwave NA (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides Radio 1 and Radio 2 service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia) (2006)
    0 (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel satellite service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia) (2006)

  • Military :: DHEKELIA

  • defense is the responsibility of the UK; includes Dhekelia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Station connected by a roadway
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