Cypriot and British authorities have had a dress rehearsal on security concerns for next Thursday’s grand opening ceremony to mark the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The general rehearsal took place at the venue which will host the ceremony, the ancient amphitheatre of Kourion, which lies within one of the two British Bases on the island.
The authorities of the Republic of Cyprus and the British Sovereign Bases worked together on Wednesday evening during the rehearsal on the security measures that will be taken before, during and after the opening ceremony.
The authorities put up checkpoints at Kourion through which cars that will carry the heads of state or government of the EU member states and EU officials will pass.
According to the general rehearsal, these cars will be escorted by Cyprus police patrol cars. Within the British Bases, a Bases police motorcycle will head motorcades carrying officials.
During the rehearsal, police officers acted efficiently and on time to simulations of scenarios that located explosives and weapons and dealt effectively with demonstrators.
Britain has retained two sovereign military bases in Cyprus, since the country gained its independence in 1960 from British colonial rule.
The opening ceremony of the Cyprus Presidency of the EU Council will take place at the ancient amphitheatre at Kourion, on the southern coast overlooking the beach, which lies within the boundaries of one of the two bases.
Cyprus, which has been divided since Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory in 1974, joined the EU in 2004. On July 1st Cyprus will take over for the first time the Presidency of the Council of the EU.