Hundreds of people demonstrated against “the transformation of Cyprus into a base for war” outside the US-sponsored security training facility CyCLOPS in Larnaca on Sunday.
The protestors, carrying banners with slogans including ‘Neither the USA nor NATO, Cyprus is a protectorate’, ‘Cyprus a bridge of peace and cooperation of peoples, without foreign armies and bases’, ‘Neither Cyprus in NATO, nor NATO in Cyprus’ and ‘United for Palestine’ marched from the town’s castle to the training centre.
The rally, attracting about 500 people, had been organised by the Cyprus Peace Council and other groups.
Police were stationed outside the centre but did not need to intervene as the event was peaceful.
“We are here because we want a Cyprus that belongs to its people, not to NATO or any other military coalition, not to foreign guardians, not to foreign armies, but to its people and only to its people,” Akel chief Stephanos Stephanou said in his address.
“We want a Cyprus that is a bridge of peace in the Eastern Mediterranean, not a base of war, not a spy center, not a training ground for war rehearsals against neighbouring states. Cyprus’ infrastructure, ports, airports, land and airspace are meant to serve Cyprus and not the Americans, Israelis or any other third party.”
We are demonstrating “against the continued militarisation of our country and its transformation into an outpost against neighbouring traditionally friendly countries. We came to protest because we cannot accept the surrender of the sovereignty and independence of half a homeland to foreign powers,” president of the Cyprus Peace Council Tassos Costeas said.
He added that “foreign military bases and NATO troops that are constantly massing in our ports and airports serve the interests of their countries and not the interests of Cyprus.”
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