NICOSIA, March 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Britain wants to make the
Mediterranean island state Cyprus its forward operating base, which
could be used in case of war against Iraq, according to Sunday's
issue of the Greek Cypriot English newspaper Sunday Mail.
   The intention was unveiled during a routine three-day visit by
Lieutenant General John Reith, Chief of Joint Operations at the
Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood, England, to the British
bases in Cyprus.
   During the visit, Reith confirmed plans were being discussed to
make the island "more useful than it is now" and "developing Cyprus
into a forward operating base," the newspaper quoted the British
general as saying.
   Cyprus officials, however, do not hesitate to express worry that
such a move could pose a threat to the island's tourism, the man
industry of the country, given the short distance between Cyprus
and the Middle East and growing concerns of a new military campaign
against Iraq.
   "I believe the effect would be very, very negative, coming in
the aftermath of Afghanistan, adding to the problems we have faced
in the past six months and worsening the recession," Cyprus'
Tourism Minister Nicos Rolandis has said.
   British has retained two sovereign military bases on the island
since it granted Cyprus independence from its colonial rule in
1960. It also maintains the right to use land outside the sovereign
bases for military exercises.
   The British bases in Cyprus played a crucial staging post role
during the 1991 air strikes against Iraq. Many tourists
subsequently stayed away from the island and the country's tourism
industry plunged into serious recession.
   It is believed that the change into a forward operating base
would mean that Britain could use Cyprus again to prepare troops
for actual operations.
   Reports said that Nicosia sees a considerable difference between
its status as a transit point and a role as launching pad for
military action against Iraq that could make it a target for
retaliatory attacks.
   The Cypriot government is concerned that because the bases are
sovereign British territory, Whitehall is not obliged to ask
permission from it.
   "It will be a blow if it happens," said Rolandis, fearing that
any war against Iraq would wipe out the expected upturn in tourist
arrivals during the second and busiest half of the year.  Enditem