Compare Dhekelia (2008) - Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) (2002)

By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created the independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovereignty and jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers - Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The larger of these is the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the Eastern Sovereign Base Area.

Although first sighted by an English navigator in 1592, the first landing (English) did not occur until almost a century later in 1690, and the first settlement (French) was not established until 1764. The colony was turned over to Spain two years later and the islands have since been the subject of a territorial dispute, first between Britain and Spain, then between Britain and Argentina. The UK asserted its claim to the islands by establishing a naval garrison there in 1833. Argentina invaded the islands on 2 April 1982. The British responded with an expeditionary force that landed seven weeks later and after fierce fighting forced Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982.

Birth rate

-

NA births/1,000 population

Budget

-

revenues: $66.2 million

expenditures: $67.9 million, including capital expenditures of $23.2 million

Capital

name: Episkopi Cantonment (base administrative center for Akrotiri and Dhekelia); located in Akrotiri

geographic coordinates: 34 40 N, 32 51 E

time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Stanley

Climate

temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters

cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but does not accumulate

Coastline

27.5 km

1,288 km

Constitution

Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order in Council 1960, effective 16 August 1960, functions as a basic legal document

3 October 1985; amended 1997 and 1998

Country name

conventional long form: Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area

conventional short form: Dhekelia

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Currency

-

Falkland pound (FKP)

Death rate

-

NA deaths/1,000 population

Debt - external

-

$NA

Dependency status

a special form of UK overseas territory; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus

overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

Disputes - international

-

claimed by Argentina

Economic aid - recipient

-

none

Economy - overview

Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military and their families located in Dhekelia. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep farming, but today fishing contributes the bulk of economic activity. In 1987 the government began selling fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the Falklands exclusive fishing zone. These license fees total more than $40 million per year, which goes to support the island's health, education, and welfare system. Squid accounts for 75% of the fish taken. Dairy farming supports domestic consumption; crops furnish winter fodder. Exports feature shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and the sale of postage stamps and coins. The islands are now self-financing except for defense. The British Geological Survey announced a 200-mile oil exploration zone around the islands in 1993, and early seismic surveys suggest substantial reserves capable of producing 500,000 barrels per day; to date no exploitable site has been identified. An agreement between Argentina and the UK in 1995 seeks to defuse licensing and sovereignty conflicts that would dampen foreign interest in exploiting potential oil reserves. Tourism is increasing rapidly, with about 30,000 visitors in 2001. The second largest source of income is interest paid on money the government has in the bank. The British military presence also provides a sizeable economic boost.

Electricity - consumption

-

11.2 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

-

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports

-

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - production

-

12 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

-

fossil fuel: 100%

hydro: 0%

nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (1999)

Elevation extremes

-

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m

Environment - current issues

netting and trapping of small migrant songbirds in the spring and autumn

overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer were introduced to the islands in 2001 for commercial reasons; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the Chornobyl disaster

Ethnic groups

-

British

Exchange rates

Cypriot pounds per US dollar - NA (2007), 0.46019 (2006), 0.4641 (2005), 0.4686 (2004), 0.5174 (2003)

Falkland pounds per US dollar - 0.6981 (January 2002), 0.6944 (2001), 0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997); note - the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)

head of government: Administrator Air Vice-Marshal Richard LACEY (since 26 April 2006); note - reports to the British Ministry of Defense

elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the administrator is appointed by the monarch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)

head of government: Governor Howard PEARCE (since 3 December 2002); Chief Executive A. M. GURR (since NA); Financial Secretary D. F. HOWATT (since NA)

cabinet: Executive Council; three members elected by the Legislative Council, two ex officio members (chief executive and the financial secretary), and the governor

elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch

Exports

-

$7.6 million (1995)

Exports - commodities

-

wool, hides, meat

Exports - partners

-

UK, Japan, Chile, NZ

Fiscal year

-

1 April - 31 March

Flag description

the flag of the UK is used

blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms in a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising is the major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT

GDP

-

purchasing power parity - $52 million (1996 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

-

agriculture: NA%

industry: NA%

services: NA%

GDP - per capita

-

purchasing power parity - $19,000

GDP - real growth rate

-

1%

Geographic coordinates

34 59 N, 33 45 E

51 45 S, 59 00 W

Geography - note

British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus; of the Sovereign Base Area land 60% is privately owned and farmed, 20% is owned by the Ministry of Defense, and 20% is SBA Crown land

deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season

Highways

-

total: 550 km

paved: at least 50 km

unpaved: NA (2002)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

-

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Imports

-

$24.7 million (1995)

Imports - commodities

-

fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing

Imports - partners

-

UK, Japan, Chile, NZ

Independence

-

none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

Industrial production growth rate

-

NA%

Industries

none

wool and fish processing; sale of stamps and coins; tourism

Infant mortality rate

-

NA deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-

3.6% (1998) (1998)

International organization participation

-

ICFTU

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

-

2 (2000)

Irrigated land

-

NA sq km

Judicial branch

-

Supreme Court (chief justice is a nonresident); Magistrates Court (senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions); Court of Summary Jurisdiction

Labor force

-

1,100 (est.)

Labor force - by occupation

-

agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing)

Land boundaries

total: 103 km (approximately)

border countries: Cyprus 103 km (approximately)

0 km

Land use

-

arable land: 0%

permanent crops: 0%

other: 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (1998 est.)

Languages

English, Greek

English

Legal system

the Sovereign Base Area Administration has its own court system to deal with civil and criminal matters; laws applicable to the Cypriot population are, as far as possible, the same as the laws of the Republic of Cyprus

English common law

Legislative branch

-

unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats - 2 ex officio, 8 elected by popular vote, members serve four-year terms); presided over by the governor

elections: last held 22 November 2001 (next to be held NA November 2005)

election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 8; note - 71% voter turnout

Life expectancy at birth

-

total population: NA years

male: NA years

female: NA years

Location

on the southeast coast of Cyprus near Famagusta

Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of southern Argentina

Map references

Middle East

South America

Maritime claims

-

continental shelf: 200 NM

exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM

territorial sea: 12 NM

Merchant marine

-

none (2002 est.)

Military - note

includes Dhekelia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Station connected by a roadway

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Military branches

-

British Forces Falkland Islands no regular indigenous military forces; (includes Army, Royal Air Force, and Royal Navy), Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

-

$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

-

NA%

National holiday

-

Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

Nationality

-

noun: Falkland Islander(s)

adjective: Falkland Island

Natural hazards

-

strong winds persist throughout the year

Natural resources

-

fish, wildlife

Net migration rate

-

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Political parties and leaders

-

none; all independents

Political pressure groups and leaders

-

none

Population

approximately 15,700 live on the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia including 7,700 Cypriots, 3,600 Service and UK Based Contract personnel, and 4,400 dependents

2,967 (July 2002 est.)

Population below poverty line

-

NA%

Population growth rate

-

2.44% (2002 est.)

Ports and harbors

-

Stanley

Radio broadcast stations

AM NA, FM 1 (located in Akrotiri), shortwave NA (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides Radio 1 and Radio 2 service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia) (2006)

AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

-

1,000 (1997)

Railways

-

0 km

Religions

-

primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist

Suffrage

-

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

-

general assessment: NA

domestic: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radiotelephone networks provide effective service to almost all points on both islands

international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) with links through London to other countries

Telephones - main lines in use

-

NA

Telephones - mobile cellular

-

NA

Television broadcast stations

0 (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel satellite service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia) (2006)

2 (operated by the British Forces Broadcasting Service)

note: cable television is available in Stanley (2002)

Terrain

-

rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains