"Control of the world over a very long period has been achieved by ... mind manipulation, manufactured division, and most important of all, fear."
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Spy station row
contributed by: AK

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By Charlie Charalambous

Cyprus is at the centre of a row between Europe and America over two sophisticated spy stations able to eavesdrop on billions of e-mails, faxes and private phone calls.

A high-tech surveillance-interception station able to tap into any electronic communication in Europe is situated within the British bases on the island, according to a European Parliament report. The specially commissioned report, which was released on Wednesday, claims that a communication bugging network codenamed Echelon is listening to Europe's business community. Greek Euro MP Alecos Alovanos said a British earth station on the island was linked to another in the UK aimed at receiving signals from 120 satellites to monitor telecommunications in Europe.

According CyBC sources, Britain runs two state-of-the-art listening posts at Ayios Nicolaos and Akrotiri, which are linked to a central nerve centre in Yorkshire, England. The government yesterday said it would seek an explanation from the British before making any official comment on the claims. "The government has not been officially briefed. We are investigating the issue and once we establish the facts, then we will decide on our course of action," said government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou.

He chose his words carefully, recognising that a slip of the tongue could spark a diplomatic row but he let it be known that the government hadn't been kept totally in the dark. "We all know that the British have radar on Cyprus. What they do with it we can't say..." said Papapetrou.

"The British maintain military bases on the island. They are not Sunday Schools or colleges," added the spokesman. However, Defence Minister Socrates Hasikos said he had requested some clarifications through diplomatic channels. "If there are spy stations eavesdropping on us then it's a very grave matter," said Hasikos. Opposition deputies were less shy about coming forward with some home truths.

Akel Secretary-General Demetris Christofias said it was about time we, "pushed the spy stations out of Cyprus." House Defence Committee Chairman Takis Hadjidemetriou claimed that Cyprus was at the top of the list for every major secret service outfit from MI6 to the CIA.

"Everyone and everything here is being watched," said Hadjidemetriou.

He revealed that his commitee had recently been briefed by the Cyprus intelligence service about "new installations" at Dhekelia base.

"It seems that various services are involved in spying activity in this country, especially on the bases," said the Edek deputy. A Bases statement, both brief and bland, said that it could not comment on the specific purpose of its global communications hub.

It did say: "Britain has long established worldwide communications networks (particularly to the Commonwealth) and the facilities in Cyprus have always been an important technical link in the worldwide communications organisations." The intelligence group called Echelon is led by the United States and includes Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

It was established at the outset of the Cold War in 1947 and slowly mushroomed into a spy network spread across the planet. It is now feared that Echelon is being used to carry out commercial espionage against fellow European allies which the French are deeply concerned about.

Both London and Washington yesterday denied the allegations of commercial sabotage or unregulated eavesdropping. The report on Echelon was written by British journalist Duncan Campbell who said most Internet communications are being routed through the US and nine known National Security Agency interception sites. Such intelligence facilities can easily tap into billions of messages per hour, whether they be mobile phone conversations or fax transmissions.

Direct link to article:
http://www.cyprusweekly.com.cy/local.htm