2005 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2005 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Area
- total
- 130.8 sq km note: area surrounds three Cypriot enclaves
Area - comparative
about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
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 in
- total
- 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
Capital
Episkopi Cantonment; located in Akrotiri
Climate
temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
Coastline
27.5 km
Country name
- conventional long form
- Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area
- conventional short form
- Dhekelia
Dependency status
overseas territory of UK; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Economy - overview
Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military and their families located in Dhekelia. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Environment - current issues
netting and trapping of small migrant songbirds in the spring and autumn
Executive branch
- chief of state
- Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952)
- elections
- none; the monarch is hereditary; the administrator is appointed by the monarch
- head of government
- Administrator Maj. Gen. Peter Tomas Clayton PEARSON (since 9 May 2003); note - reports to the British Ministry of Defence
Flag description
the flag of the UK is used Economy Dhekelia
Geographic coordinates
34 59 N, 33 45 E
Geography - note
British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus People Dhekelia
Industries
none Military Dhekelia
Land boundaries
- total
- NA; note - boundary with Cyprus is being resurveyed
Languages
English, Greek Government Dhekelia
Legal system
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply
Location
on the southeast coast of Cyprus near Famagusta
Map references
Middle East
Military - note
includes Dheklia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Station connected by a roadway This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================
Population
no indigenous personnel note: approximately 2,200 military personnel are on the base; there are another 5,000 British citizens who are families of military personnel or civilian staff on both the bases of Akrotiri and Dhekelia; Cyprus citizens work on the base, but do not live there