Partial lift to Napa squaddie ban

THE BAN imposed on British Military personnel from entering Ayia Napa Square has been partly lifted, as British soldiers are now allowed to enter the area between 10am and 5pm, an SBA spokesman confirmed yesterday.

“From 1 August the area at Ayia Napa Square previously out of bounds to British Military personnel is within bounds. The relaxation of the restriction within this timeframe will allow for a more family-friendly approach to Ayia Napa visits,” Spart Barbsley, SBA spokesman told the Cyprus Mail.

The ban has been in force since 1994, due to the numerous incidents of unruly behaviour on the part of British soldiers.

Despite the ban, incidents of unruly behaviour by British soldiers continued to take place, with the latest recorded case in April 2008, when nine British soldiers who had just returned from duty in Iraq got involved in a bar brawl.

The decision to partially lift the ban was taken, following an ongoing dialogue between the SBA and the Municipality of Ayia Napa. “The ban has always been under review and has been adjusted in the past for various reasons. The SBA had contacted the Mayor of Ayia Napa and discussed the relaxation of the timeframe to enable family-oriented visits. The evening ban, however, is still in place,” Barbsley explained.

According to Barbsley, if the latest relaxation has positive results, the SBA will attempt to discuss the possibility of lifting the ban altogether. “I think that the ban is subject to a constant review and is a gradual process. We always strive to negotiate and consult with the Republic authorities, and in this case they are the Municipality of Ayia Napa. If the relaxation works then the matter can be reviewed later on,” he said.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.