Why is the UK still in Cyprus?
Cyprus gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1960, after 82 years of British control. The UK was also a signatory to a treaty with Greece and Turkey concerning the independence of Cyprus, the Treaty of Guarantee, which maintains that Britain is a “guarantor power” of the island’s independence.
How many Cypriots live in the UK?
300,000 Cypriots
Today, there are currently around 300,000 Cypriots living in the UK. Particularly large Cypriot communities can be found in: London.
Is Cyprus a British Overseas Territory?
As part of the independence agreement, the United Kingdom retained possession of the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia as a British Overseas Territory . In 1961 the Republic of Cyprus became the 99th member of the United Nations.
Why does the UK have two military bases in Cyprus?
Covering not even 100 square miles the two bases on Cyprus are vital to the British military capabilities in the Mediterranean, Middle East and beyond East of Suez. The British presence in the island of Cyprus goes back to the late nineteenth-century when the small island was leased to the UK by the former Ottoman Empire in the year of 1878.
Why is Cyprus so important to the UK?
The UK in Cyprus – The Importance of the Sovereign Bases of Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The relevance of the bases of Akrotiri and Dhekelia to the UK is focused on the geographically strategic location of the island, at the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, near the Suez Canal and the Middle East.
When did Cyprus gain independence from the British?
Cyprus became a British protectorate in 1912; by 1922, it was a crown colony. It gained independence in 1960, on the proviso that Britain maintained its military territories. Today, the two UK Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) occupy nearly three per cent of Cyprus.