Cyprus continues to be a back base for weapons experts in Iraq

The Cypriot government yesterday extended until October 2004 an agreement with the UN states to use a back base in case of the return of the UN weapons experts to Iraq.

The spokesman of the Cypriot government said that the agreement which stated in the end of 2002 to establish a back base in Larnaca UNMOFIK ( the UN monitoring, investigation and inspection ) was extended until October 30, 2004. He explained that offices of the committee will remain open until the UN Security Council will take a final decision on the fate of set missions.

The spokesman indicated that the UN and the International Agency For Atomic Energy intend to keep their offices in Cyprus open until a final decision to this effect is take."