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A British garrison force is stationed there to defend them, and they contain a British listening post, and the only fully fledged RAF station in the Mediterranean (since Gibraltar does not have any aircraft permanently based there), RAF Akrotiri. In addition to the garrison, the UK makes a contribution to the United Nations force in Cyprus. In total, some 3,500 British personnel are based in Cyprus.
There is certain disorientation when entering the military parts of a sovereign base area (unlike Guantanamo Bay, there are roads running through the territory and even through the military camps themselves, which are open to traffic from Cyprus). In particular, the road names in the military camps are all very English, like "Worcester Road". Civilian laws are enacted by the British civilian authorities, but are patterned on those of the Republic of Cyprus. Many Cypriots work in the SBAs, mainly for the British authorities or as farmers, or for a few local businesses. But only those Cypriots with a local connection are permitted to live there, such as those who live in Akrotiri village or in the outskirts of villages neighbouring the bases. Also the villages of Xylotimbou and Ormidhia , in the Republic of Cyprus, are enclaves surrounded by Dhekelia SBA.
The Sovereign Bases in Cyprus are an overseas territory, but instead of having a Governor, like other such territories, it has an Administrator, who, while appointed by the Queen, is responsible to the Ministry of DefenceThis articles deals with the British ministry, see defence minister for other countries. Whitehall, Westminster, London The Ministry of Defence MoD is the United Kingdom government department charged with managing the military. Ministers as of 22 August,, not to the Foreign and Commonwealth OfficeThe Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO is the United Kingdom government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom abroad. The FCO is headed by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. The FCO was formed.
A sizeable antenna (probably an ionospheric radarThis article is about the device. For the fictional character in M A S H see Corporal Walter (Radar) O'Reilly. antenna (approximately 40m (130ft) in diameter) rotates on a track to observe activities near the horizon. Radar is an acronym for ra dio d etec) was erected within the Akrotiri base raising consern for the effect on local wildlife and on the health of people living in Limassol.