Bits furious furious at 'losing' its colony, Cyprus

Putin's latest deal with Cyprus will see Russian warships docking in EU - Brits furious as Russia increases foothold in 'our colony'

© EPA
A 2003 picture of Russia's nuclear-powered cruiser Peter the Great, which could soon be sailing in the Mediterranean from new bases in Cyprus after the deal was sealed with Russia

Sott.net,

27 February, 2015

Russia has gained a military foothold in Europe after Vladimir Putin signed a controversial deal with Cyprus to dock warships there. 

British MPs said Nicosia's decision to let the Russian navy, including heavily armed frigates, use its ports for counter-terrorism and anti-piracy was 'worrying and disappointing'. 

Cyprus, an EU member, thrashed out the agreement despite already hosting two British military bases and 3,200 troops. President Putin insisted the deal 'should not cause worries anywhere'. 

But Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, who was visiting Moscow, hinted Russian warplanes could also be allowed to use a military airbase in Paphos, on the south-west coast of the island. 

The deal raised eyebrows as tensions between the West and Moscow over the crisis in Ukraine continue to rise. 

It will be watched warily by the UK, which has led calls for a string of punishing economic sanctions against Moscow for arming pro-Kremlin separatists who have taken over huge swathes of territory. 

On Tuesday, Britain announced it would deploy 75 troops to Ukraine as trainers - a move certain to have infuriated Putin. Russian bombers have recently buzzed UK airspace in a show of strength. 

The latest agreement fuelled speculation that the Kremlin had engineered the deal by putting together a multibillion-pound package to bail out debt-ridden Cyprus. 

The two countries, which have long had close economic ties, signed protocols including fresh financial deals between Cyprus and the Central Bank of Russia. 

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There had already been a surge in Russian navy visits to the Cypriot port of Limassol, but the new agreement puts the situation on more solid legal ground. 
Tory MP Richard Ottaway, chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, said: 'It is going to make renewing sanctions against Russia ... much more unlikely. 

'Putin is trying to drive a wedge between countries in the EU.'

A senior British Army officer said: 'This will be watched closely by London. We know Russia has long coveted a naval base in Cyprus.

'This is another sign we are creeping back into a new Cold War.' 

Dr James Ker-Lindsay, an expert on the politics of south-east Europe at the London School of Economics, said many in the EU 'will feel worried and disappointed by this agreement'. 

He said Cyprus felt the EU had not helped it at the height of the financial crisis, yet Russian businesses and oligarchs stayed and did not withdraw their money. 

Unveiling the deal, President Putin said: 'Our friendly ties aren't aimed against anyone. I don't think it should cause worries anywhere.'

Cyprus – Russia agreements: Testing the waters

by Kakaouskia

It is with great surprise that I read the other day that Cyprus and Russia have signed an agreement on allowing the use of Cyprus ports by Russian Navy vessels. Not more so than the fact that this agreement was signed by a president which two years ago spoke openly on applying for entry into Partnership for Peace.

First, let us take a look at what was signed. The complete list can be found here (in Greek). It is rather long to be translated for the sake of this article; suffice to say that it includes agreements and memoranda of understanding (MOU) of various subjects ranging from sports to science to political coordination and intelligence exchange. Most of what was signed is updates and continuation of existing agreements and MOUs.

The “hot item” is item #5 (my translation):

Memorandum of Understanding on the Cooperation between the two Ministries of Defence in the Navy Department. The Memorandum anticipates the development of naval cooperation between the Navy of the Republic of Cyprus and the Navy of the Russian Federation. It covers many aspects, among others Search and Rescue (SAR) in the area of Cyprus as well as the provision of facilities at the ports of the Republic.

Russian media, quoting Putin, indicated that the agreement “applies to Russian vessels involved in counter-terrorism and anti-piracy efforts” – no lack of those in the Cyprus area – as well as “The updated agreement envisages the right of Russian warships to visit the ports of Cyprus…for humanitarian purposes such as supply and refueling as well as saving the lives and evacuation of Russian citizens from neighboring states” in the words of Putin.

Russia on the other hand offered some sound financial incentives, with the most immediate being the extension of a €2.5 Billion loan to Cyprus up to 2021 (it was due in 2016) with an almost 50% reduction in the interest rate (2.5% instead of 4.5%).

This is “cracking open the door open a bit”. Officially this is a cooperation agreement between two navies decorated with the Western-favorite catchphrase of anti-terrorism. The catch here is that Cyprus does not have a navy to speak of bar four patrol boats, so with whom the Russian navy will cooperate in blue waters? Moreover, as Cyprus does not have a military naval base the Russian vessels will mainly use the port of Limassol which is a civilian port and the home of an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 Russians (a quarter of the city’s population). These facts have already been pointed out by the Cyprus government to beautify the agreement by saying to the EU something along the lines of “look fellas, we allowed them the use of a civilian port, in a city they will really feel like home and to combat terrorism. What is wrong with that?”

Is this what Russia has asked for? Not exactly. Russia does want military bases in the area, especially considering the state of Tartus in Syria. On the other hand, Cyprus as an EU member cannot simply go and outright give everything Russia asked for, not without some more background work at least. I believe that both countries will wait and see how this will work out (and how much pressure Cyprus is due to get) and then move on to touch the really hot potato (for Cyprus) that is the use of Paphos air force base by Russia.