Greens claim US plan for bases in Cyprus

GREEN Party deputy George Perdikis yesterday claimed he had information that the US would be allowed to set up air force bases in the north and in Paphos in the event of a solution.

Speaking at a news conference yesterday, Perdikis claimed that the Turkish air force base at Lefkoniko in the north and the National Guard’s base in Paphos would be converted to US bases that would be guarded by Greek and Turkish detachments whose headquarters would be on their respective side’s bases.

“According to very persistent information from different sides and sources from the US, it seems there are plans to convert the two bases into NATO military bases, which will be guarded by Greek and Turkish troops on the island,” Perdikis said.

“The Greek and Turkish detachments will not be on the island to provide security for Greek and Turkish Cypriots, but instead their mission will be to provide coverage and security for the two bases the Americans are planning to create,” he added.

The US has denied suggestions that it plans to set up a military presence on the island in the event of a solution.