House calls on British government to act on bases
THE HOUSE of Representatives passed a resolution last night calling on the Republic to demand from the British government that they pay back all the money they owe Cyprus regarding the Bases.
House President Demetris Christofias followed the resolution with a call for the dissolution of the bases, which has not paid anything to Cyprus since 1965.
The resolution is set to stir up the debate over the SBAs once again; a week after controversial anti-British MEP Marios Matsakis was arrested by Bases police.
The resolution also calls on the government to examine other ways to deal with the situation and other measures that should be taken in case the British authorities continue their refusal to pay up.
Yesterday’s declaration criticises the Bases not only for the unpaid taxes, it also claims that the British have been deliberately trying to cause trouble.
“As well as the issue in question, a lot of other actions taken by the British government regarding the operation of their Bases in Cyprus that have repeatedly provoked the feelings of the Cypriot population,” the resolution said.
The resolution, which was unanimously approved by the Plenum, also expressed its disapproval over last week’s arrest of Marios Matsakis and his subsequent treatment.
“We especially condemn the recent illegal arrest of the Cypriot MEP Marios Matsakis, who was in Cyprus with a delegation of the European Parliament,” it said. “This arrest shows disregard towards the European Parliament and European institutions in general.”
The resolution, which recalled previous ones made by parliament on the British bases over the years, said the British presence constituted the remain of a former colonial power, and was regarded as such by the UN.
“The rights of Britain that spring from the same Treaty of Establishment is accompanied by obligations, including the payment of pecuniary sums, as financial assistance to the Cyprus Republic as compensation for facilities they enjoy in the territory of Cyprus.”
“The non payment of financial obligations amounts to a violation of the Treaty of Establishment by the British side.”
Christofias called for an indepth study into the status of the bases by legal experts since the bases were also outside of the EU. A political decision should then be taken.
“This is necessary so that we don’t end up chasing shadows. Otherwise we will be continuously tabling this subject and end up throwing pebbles at a wall,” said Christofias.
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