User:Foghe/Akrotiri
British Overseas Territory / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sovereign Base of Akrotiri | |
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Anthem: "God Save the Queen"
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Status | British Overseas Territory |
Capital and largest city | Akrotiri |
Official languages | English |
Other languages | Greek |
Government | Dependency under a constitutional monarchy |
• Monarch | Elizabeth II |
• Governor | James Illingworth |
Legislature | Parliament of the United Kingdom |
Established 17 February 1959 (Prospective; London Conference 1959) 29 July 1960 (Prospective; Cyprus Act 1960) 3 August 1960 (Prospective; The SBA Order in Council 1960 (S.I. 1960/1369)) 16 August 1960 (Act and Order appointed day) (Treaty of Establishment) | |
Area | |
• Total | 37 km2 (14 sq mi) |
Population | |
• Estimate |
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Currency | Euro (EUR) |
Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
UTC+3 (EEST) | |
Driving side | left |
Calling code | +357 |
The Sovereign Base of Akrotiri[1] (abbr. SBA; Greek: Κυρίαρχων βάση Ακρωτηρίου, Kyríarchon Vási Akrotiríou) is a British Overseas Territory on the island of Cyprus. The land, which includes British military bases and installations, was retained by the British under the 1960 treaty of independence, signed by the United Kingdom, Greece, Turkey and representatives from the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, which granted independence to the Crown colony of Cyprus. The territory serves an important role as a station for signals intelligence and provides a vital strategic part of the United Kingdom communications gathering and monitoring network in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. The United States may have a significant presence in the territory.[2]
The territory was originally composed of the two Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The former, Akrotiri (Greek: Ακρωτήρι pronounced [akroˈtiri]; Turkish: Ağrotur Turkish pronunciation: [ˈaːɾotuɾ]), or the Western Sovereign Base Area (WSBA), included two main bases at RAF Akrotiri and Episkopi, plus all of Akrotiri Village's district (including Limassol Salt Lake) and parts of eleven other village districts.[3] The latter, Dhekelia (Δεκέλεια Greek pronunciation: [ðeˈceʎa]; Dikelya), or the Eastern Sovereign Base Area (ESBA), included a base at Ayios Nikolaos plus parts of twelve village districts.[4]
Nowadays, after its reduction in size, the territory covers only the portion of the Akrotiri Peninsula lying south of the Salt Lake, which include the RAF base and the inhabitations of the militons. The other Base Area of Dhekelia has been since then completely vacated.