UK renews offer over Cyprus land

Dusterbruce


Joined: 03/08/2007
Posts: 1125

Message Posted:
10/11/2009 22:23

A page has just appeared on BBC teletext that Britain is 'formally renewing' an offer to hand over half of its sovereign territory in Cyprus to facilitate a peace deal, according to the U.N.

A formal statement would be issued by Downing Street after the meeting between Gordon Brown and the Greek Cypriot president.

Sideways



Joined: 21/01/2009
Posts: 529

Message Posted:
10/11/2009 22:31

Here is a link to it:



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8353712.stm

Dusterbruce


Joined: 03/08/2007
Posts: 1125

Message Posted:
10/11/2009 22:40

Why is the BBC showing a photo of Varosha, thats not part of the SBA nor is it British

karakum5c



Joined: 18/03/2008
Posts: 1021

Message Posted:
10/11/2009 22:42

The article says it all, you can always rely on good old AUNTIE to get it right

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
10/11/2009 22:43

What a lot of tosh, if it's classified as 'SOVEREIGN' Territory how can it be given up?!



Richard

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
10/11/2009 22:45

Who benefits from the so called 'handover'?

karakum5c



Joined: 18/03/2008
Posts: 1021

Message Posted:
10/11/2009 22:47

Peter Andre

sporty


Joined: 06/12/2007
Posts: 685

Message Posted:
10/11/2009 23:09

only half?

andre 514


Joined: 31/03/2008
Posts: 1163

Message Posted:
11/11/2009 03:55

as richard suggests in message 6 the sba's were not supposed to be negociable

but they can certainly be trimmed if all sides accept the original agreement is out of date



this is dangerous territory:

britain tried the so-called spirit of compromise with gibraltar and the falklands:

the only result was to engender false hopes in spain and argentina and later, irritation



as regards handing over part, the smallest child would pipe up "why not all?"



how fortunate for britain and its american ally that "busy" akrotiri airbase

is about as likely to be up for grabs as there is any real chance of cypriot turks

"throwing in the towel" as it were

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
11/11/2009 13:42

The report states

"It is understood they (the bases) would both continue in operation after the handing over of the territory."

Am I missing something?

Blackie


Joined: 20/12/2007
Posts: 129

Message Posted:
11/11/2009 14:50

Call me cynical but there is a possible positive outcome for Britain. One of the easiest ways to get into Britain is for an illegal to climb over the Severign Base Area fence and surrender themselves to the British Authorities. They are in effect in Britain so they get put on an RAF transport and get flown to Britain to go through the usual process for illegals,get documented told to report to a police station once a week and disappear to a catering establishment near you. The smaller the area the less perimeter fence they have to patrol.

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
11/11/2009 15:01

re msg 11





Are you SURE that any illegals found on the SBA are sent back to the UK?

Blackie


Joined: 20/12/2007
Posts: 129

Message Posted:
11/11/2009 15:12

That was certainly the case two years ago it may have changed but I cant see the Southern Cypriots accepting illegals back.

NoveltyBubble


Joined: 11/11/2009
Posts: 46

Message Posted:
11/11/2009 18:25

Well done Britain for starting the ball rolling. Hopefully now other governments will get involved to push the talks along.



I have a very good feeling about this.



It makes me feel happy inside and happy to be alive!

andre 514


Joined: 31/03/2008
Posts: 1163

Message Posted:
19/11/2009 17:57

al,



assuming you are not actually joking,

I think your good feeling may well be premature:

the only things to roll will surely be heads

if britain ever has to "pay out" on its offer

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
19/11/2009 20:31

Dear Andre_514



The land that would be returned would not be any loss militarily... I'm sure the British would like to close down Dhekelia completely ..

andre 514


Joined: 31/03/2008
Posts: 1163

Message Posted:
20/11/2009 01:24

the reason why britain is in reality more reluctant than it appears

(because at the present state of play it's offer is most unlikely to be taken up)

is that the whole legal basis of the sba's would be called into question



but then again mark as you might almost put it yourself

it is practical commonsense to see off the turks, oops I mean the brits obviously



...depending one's particular personal viewpoint,

something you always seem very coy to admit possessing mark



am I being unfair?