Dhekelia

§1. Dhekelia Introduction

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 - Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The
  larger of these is the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred
  to as the Eastern Sovereign Base Area.

§2. Dhekelia Geography

Location:
  on the southeast coast of Cyprus near Famagusta

Geographic coordinates:
  34 59 N, 33 45 E

Map references:
  Middle_East

Area:
  total: 130.8 kmē
  note: area surrounds three Cypriot enclaves

Area - comparative:
  about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
  total: NA; note - boundary with Cyprus is being resurveyed

Coastline:
  27.5 km

Climate:
  temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters

Environment - current issues:
  netting and trapping of small migrant songbirds in the spring and autumn

Geography - note:
  British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post
  sites scattered across Cyprus

§3. Dhekelia People

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

Languages:
  English, Greek

§4. Dhekelia Government

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

Capital:
  Episkopi Cantonment; located in Akrotiri

Legal system:
  the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952)
  head of government: Administrator Maj. Gen. Peter Tomas Clayton PEARSON
    (since 9 May 2003); note - reports to the British Ministry of Defence
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the administrator is appointed
    by the monarch

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description:
  the flag of the UK is used

§5. Dhekelia Economy

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.

Industries:
  none

§6. Dhekelia Military

Military - note:
  includes Dheklia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Station connected by a roadway


<Factbook 2006>
