NICOSIA, Cyprus

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.