Page 24 - Cormorant 2023

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Cyprus
Wg Cdr Ben Lonsdale
A mixed team flew out to the Republic of Cyprus for a busy week of travel and learning.
We began at the University of Nicosia with interesting and sometimes emotive briefs from the British High Commission and the Cypriot Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This proved an eye opener for those of us who hadn’t understood the history and the complexity of the island, not least the residual challenges of the Sovereign Base Areas and the frictions between Cyprus and Turkey.
The importance of RoC’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) was also
discussed at length as a source of friction and opportunity for the country. The highlight for many though was the opportunity to walk along part of the ‘Green Line’ as it ran through Nicosia.
Given Cyprus’ fame as a holiday destination, the demilitarised zone assured by UN peacekeepers that sits between the Republic of Cyprus and the
so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus might appear to the uninitiated as a minor thing, but it quickly became clear how seriously the issue was taken by both the opposing sides, and the peacekeepers, who at the time of our visit were a unit deployed from the UK.
For the group who walked along the Green Line at dusk, in particular, the abandoned buildings and armed soldiers just a few feet away made it an atmospheric visit.
We were also fortunate to be hosted for half a day by a Cypriot armoured unit, the commander of which was himself an ACSC alumnus. This added further flavour to the challenges faced by the islanders.
The second half of our trip saw us move away from Nicosia and on to the Sovereign Base Area that includes both Episkopi Garrison and RAF Akrotiri.
While briefs from senior officers within British Forces Cyprus explained the military strategic importance of the island and of the SBAs, we were also able to tour RAF Akrotiri in detail and understand from emergency services workers at the coal face how the UK and Cypriot personnel on the SBAs work together for mutual benefit.
Despite many of us having been based or exercised in, or transited through, the SBAs, this visit expanded our outlook significantly in terms of Cyprus and the region as a whole.
“...it quickly became clear
how seriously the issue was taken by both the opposing sides and the peacekeepers