Akrotiri :: Europe
Introduction
Background:
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 southernmost and smallest of these is the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the Western Sovereign Base Area.
Geography
Location:
Eastern Mediterranean, peninsula on the southwest coast of Cyprus
Geographic coordinates:
34 37 N, 32 58 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total:
123 sq km
note: includes a salt lake and wetlands
country comparison to the world: 223
Area - comparative:
about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total:
48 km
border countries (1):
Cyprus 48 km
Coastline:
56.3 km
Climate:
temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
Environment - current issues:
hunting around the salt lake; note - breeding place for loggerhead and green turtles; only remaining colony of griffon vultures is on the base
Geography - note:
British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus; of the Sovereign Base Area (SBA) land, 60% is privately owned and farmed, 20% is owned by the Ministry of Defense, and 20% is SBA Crown land
People and Society
Population:
approximately 18,195 on the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia including 11,000 Cypriots and 7,195 Service and UK-based contract personnel and dependents
(2020)
Languages:
English, Greek
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
Government
Country name:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Akrotiri
etymology:
named for the village that lies within the Western Sovereign Base Area on Cyprus
Dependency status:
a special form of UK overseas territory; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus
Capital:
name:
Episkopi Cantonment (base administrative center for Akrotiri and Dhekelia)
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
etymology: "Episkopi" means "episcopal" in Greek and stems from the fact that the site previously served as the bishop's seat of an Orthodox diocese
Constitution:
history:
presented 3 August 1960, effective 16 August 1960 (The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order in Council 1960 serves as a basic legal document)
amendments:
amended 1966
Legal system:
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
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government:
Administrator Major General Robert J. THOMSON (since 25 September 2019); note - administrator reports to the British Ministry of Defense; the chief officer is responsible for the day-to-day running of the civil government of the Sovereign Bases
elections/appointments:
the monarchy is hereditary; administrator appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Ministry of Defense
Judicial branch:
highest courts:
Senior Judges' Court (consists of several visiting judges from England and Wales)
judge selection and term of office:
see entry for United Kingdom
subordinate courts:
Resident Judges' Court; Courts Martial
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:
the flag of the UK is used
National anthem:
note: as a UK area of special sovereignty, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)
Economy
Economic 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.
Ease of Doing Business Index scores:
Exchange rates:
note: uses the euro
Communications
Broadcast media:
British Forces Broadcast Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel satellite TV service as well as BFBS radio broadcasts to the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area
Transportation
Airports:
1
(2020)
country comparison to the world: 209
Airports - with paved runways:
2,438 to 3,047 m:
1
(2017)
Military and Security
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK; Akrotiri has a full RAF base, headquarters for British Forces Cyprus, and Episkopi Support Unit
