TAMWORTH

130
Dhekélia is 858 kilometres (533 miles) from Paphos. www.trueknowledge.com
Travel Advice Cyprus | Smartraveller.gov.au
Akrotiri and Dhekelia Sovereign Base Areas indicated in pink.
Capital: Episkopi (administrative Centre) * Official Language: English and Greek
History:
The Sovereign Base Areas were created in 1960 by the Treaty of Establishment, when Cyprus achieved
independence from the British Empire.The United Kingdom desired to retain sovereignty over these areas, as
this guaranteed the use of UK military bases in Cyprus, including RAF Akrotiri, and a garrison of the British
Army. The importance of the bases to the British is based on the strategic location of Cyprus, at the eastern edge
of the Mediterranean, close to the Suez Canal and the Middle East; the ability to use the RAF base as staging
post for military aircraft; and for general training purposes.
In 1974, following a military coup by the Greek-Cypriot National Guard attempting to achieve enosis (union
with Greece), Turkeyinvaded the north of Cyprus, leading to the establishment of the internationally
unrecognised Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. However, this did not affect the status of the bases, and
despite being two of the three guaranteeing powers of the Republic of Cyprus, neither Greece nor Great Britain
were involved in the fighting and neither has honoured the Treaty of Guarantee yet.Greek Cypriots fleeing from
the Turks were permitted to travel through the Dhekelia base, and were given humanitarian aid. The Turkish
advance halted when it reached the edge of the Sovereign Base Area to avoid military conflict with the United
Kingdom.
Economy:
There are no economic statistics gathered for Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The main economic activities are the
provision of services to the military, as well as limited agriculture. On 1 January 2008 Akrotiri and Dhekelia
adopted the euro along with the rest of Southern Cyprus, despite not being part of the European Union. The
Sovereign Base Areas are the only areas under British sovereignty to use the euro.
As this Travelling Gavel is being presented into Masonic Lodges with-in Cyprus, the next Lodge to receive this
Gavel was;
Wikipedia
------:------
46 th Lodge to receive this Gavel
7502 Dhekelia Garrison BFPO 58
Information about Dhekelia;
The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia are two British-administered areas comprising a British
Overseas Territory on the island of Cyprus administered as Sovereign Base Areas of the United Kingdom. The
bases were retained by the British, under the 1960 treaty of independence, agreed and signed by the United