President Nikos Christodoulides has called for an end to what he described as the “colonial legacy” of Britain's Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus, arguing that the time has come to reconsider the status of the military bases at Akrotiri and Dhekelia.
In an interview with The Observer, conducted at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia and published on the newspaper's subscription website on Saturday, Christodoulides also voiced strong support for the United Kingdom rejoining the European Union, saying all 27 member states would welcome such a move.
President calls for review of British bases
Christodoulides said the time had come to reassess the status of the British Sovereign Base Areas, established under the arrangements surrounding Cyprus's independence in 1960.
“We need to put an end to this colonial legacy,” he said, stressing that his position should not be interpreted as anti-British sentiment.
“Our relationship with the United Kingdom today is not the same as the one we had in 1960,” he added.
The President said the British Government had not ruled out the possibility of discussing the future status of the bases.
“We have various options, but out of respect for the British Government, we are not going to negotiate publicly,” he said.
His remarks signal a willingness by Nicosia to reopen discussions on an issue that has remained a sensitive aspect of the relationship between Cyprus and the United Kingdom since independence.
Christodoulides backs UK return to the EU
Ten years after the Brexit referendum, Christodoulides said he was a strong supporter of the UK's return to the European Union.
“I would like to see the United Kingdom fully rejoining as early as next week,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the EU's 27 member states, he added that every country would welcome the prospect of British re-entry.
“I can tell you on behalf of the 27 member states that all countries would welcome the possibility of the United Kingdom rejoining. The obstacle does not come from the European side,” he said.
Christodoulides argued that a British return would benefit both the EU and the UK, strengthening the bloc at a time of international instability while helping London address major challenges, including migration.
“If we are together, we are much stronger,” he said.
In his view, “today the United Kingdom needs the European Union more than the European Union needs the United Kingdom”.
Cyprus's experience highlights benefits of EU cooperation
The President pointed to Cyprus's experience as an example of the benefits of closer European cooperation.
He said that, with EU assistance, irregular migration to the island had fallen by 90%, while migrant returns had increased by 85%.
However, he acknowledged that it would be politically difficult for the British Government to immediately pursue a new EU membership application or call a referendum on the issue.
Instead, he suggested that the UK would probably adopt a gradual approach, developing closer arrangements with the bloc that could resemble those enjoyed by a member state without formally rejoining.
He nevertheless ruled out the possibility of Britain returning on a selective basis, choosing only the EU benefits it wanted.
“Nobody would want selective participation,” he said.
UK-EU relations show signs of renewed rapprochement
The interview comes amid renewed efforts by London and Brussels to strengthen their relationship, with negotiations under way on agreements covering areas including youth mobility, university tuition fees for EU students in the UK, the facilitation of agricultural trade and cooperation on emissions.
The discussions are taking place ahead of the EU-UK summit scheduled to be held in Brussels on 20 November.
Christodoulides' comments come as the debate over the consequences of Brexit continues in the UK.
According to a YouGov poll cited by The Observer, almost six in ten Britons now believe Brexit was the wrong decision. The survey found that 55% supported the UK's return to the European Union, compared with 34% who opposed it.
Source: CNA
