Britain, Cyprus hail ‘new era’ on military land

Thousands of Cypriots living on British military land will have the right to develop their properties under a deal to take effect next week, ending decades of unequal treatment, officials said Monday.

Cypriot property owners on base land were subject to “62 years of distortions and imbalances” which the deal to be implemented from May 16 will remove, Cyprus’s President Nicos Anastasiades said at a ceremony.

Residential, commercial and other developments will be possible under the arrangement.

Cyprus, an eastern Mediterranean island, has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded following a Greek-sponsored coup. The Republic of Cyprus, whose overwhelming majority are Greek Cypriots, has effective control over the southern two-thirds of the island.