Nicosia - The Cyprus house of representatives has called on Britain to suspend the construction of a giant communications mast in the Akrotiri sovereign base area, writes Michael Jansen. The 56-member house passed a unanimous resolution saying that the work must not proceed until an independent study on the impact of the antenna has been completed.
Voting after the most serious anti-base protests ever staged, deputies registered "serious concern" over the health risks posed by the electromagnetic field and radiation produced by the installation and expressed the view that it "will have a negative impact on the Akrotiri wetland . . . and the ecosystem of the area, its flora, fauna and birdlife".
Meanwhile, Ireland announced this week that it would establish an embassy in Cyprus, a strong candidate for early EU membership.