By Anthony O. Miller
OFFICIALS of the Cyprus Ports Authority (CPA) and of the British Forces yesterday denied reports that Britain had spy cameras in Limassol Port capable of keeping tabs on military deliveries there, but the defence minister gave weight to the claims, saying they should be investigated in full.
Alithia said yesterday that three closed-circuit video cameras, “which have the power to control the whole Limassol Port area,” were installed about four months ago by the British Sovereign Bases Areas (SBA) on warehouse #2 without government permission.
The story said one camera was perched on the east side, with the other two on the west side of warehouse #2, which it noted the SBA rented from the Limassol Port to hold goods imported and exported for Bases personnel.
Alerted by port security personnel, Cyprus authorities ordered a police investigation, during which SBA personnel claimed the cameras were there to ensure the security of the warehouse and the belongings stored there, the newspaper reported.
“Because the explanation was not satisfactory, a higher police officer (not identified in the story) later ordered that the cameras should be immobilised,” the story said.
Alithia added, confusingly, that a CPA official – also not identified – had said the cameras were operating in compliance with government regulations, but acknowledged suspicions that they were installed to keep track of Greek ships and incoming war materiel.
The accusation comes at a sensitive time, as Cyprus has postponed – but not cancelled – delivery of Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles. Any third country’s ability to monitor the movement of goods through Limassol Port could enable that power to learn if any missile parts or components were ever delivered to Cyprus.
Defence Minister Yiannakis Omirou said yesterday the authorites would investigate whether the British indeed had any cameras capable of monitoring the possible arrival of the S-300s, warning the “necessary steps” would be taken if there was any truth to the reports.
But SBA spokesman Capt. Jon Brown yesterday categorically denied the Alithia story: “The cameras in question are your normal, security cameras that are used for the security and protection of property. They are not – I repeat: not – for the use of spying or any other such nonsense.”
Warehouse #2 “is used to bring in people’s personal belongings when they are posted over here… (or) posted from Cyprus,” Brown said. The three cameras mounted there are merely “making sure that the building is not interefered with,” he said.
Brown said one camera “monitors the (outside) port area that is immediately adjacent to the building, itself,” but cannot monitor the entire port. The other two are inside the warehouse.
And Capt. Chris David, head of the SBA’s Port Unit, yesterday also dismissed the allegations.
“The Bases have been completely open about their use of this warehouse and the requirement to install security cameras” to protect it and SBA property, David said.
“We informed the Cypriot Port Authorities of our intention to install these security cameras as early as April of this year, and they were checked by the Port security officer and Port manager in July,” he said, adding: “They are monitored by a locally employed Cypriot guard.”
Dinos Erotocritou, Ports Authority chairman, yestereday also dismissed the suggestion the three cameras were part of any British spy operation or were operating illegally.
“We have looked into the matter, both from the Ports Authority as well as with the police… and there is nothing against the law” going on with the cameras, Erotocritou said.
“If these cameras were there for spying, we would not have allowed them to be there,” he said, adding: “I was told by the people who are in charge of the port” they are not even spy-capable devices.
“The position (of the cameras) is not as it is described,” by Alithia, he said. “Two of them are installed inside the #2 warehouse… and the other one, which is outside, is placed in an area which again is leased to the British for storing various articles belonging to servicemen. So the area that these operate in is very limited,” and in no case covers the total port.
A senior CPA official, who requested anonymity, echoed Erotocritou, noting the Bases rent part of warehouse #2 “for around £70,000 per year” to hold the kit of SBA personnel.
“They have two or three cameras installed on the store, but they are not for spying,” the official said; “they are there in order to make sure there is no property being stolen or anybody intruding into the property.”
On first learning of the cameras, “we called the Cyrpus Police in. The police inspected the place and told us there is no problem,” the CPA official said.
“We know for a fact that these cameras are not of a long-range capability,” the CPA official said. “The maximum range is 65 to 70 metres, (and) they are located in a place where they cannot cover long distances.”
“So, to conclude: There is nothing to worry about. There is nothing true in the report in Alithia where it talks about spying on Greek ships. This is nonsense,” the CPA official said.
“As far as I know,” the CPA official said, no SBA cameras were ever ordered immobilised, and the three cameras now attached to warehouse #2 are the only ones the SBA ever installed in Limassol Port.
Rob Need, the new SBA Spokesman said of the flap: “If only media outlets would verify information with us in the Media Operations Department, they could avoid any erroneous reporting.”
