Cypriot foreign minister speaks on Syria crisis

(Vatican Radio) The prospect of western air strikes against Syria is causing concerns in all directions, especiallyon the tiny Mediterranean island of Cyprus, where the problem is foremost in the mind of the island's top diplomat Ioannis Kasoulides. As foreign minister, he has an especially difficult dilemma - as even though Cyprus is an independent republic and a member of the EU - it is also host to a British Air Force establishment in Akrotiri on the south-west coast which is reportedly gearing up to be part of any airstrike on Syria.

He told correspondent Nathan Morley that Cyprus is against further use of violence and escalation of tension, but even now remains in the dark as to what form any military action may take.

“Yesterday I was having a meeting with the British Ambassador and we are in agreement that there will be no surprises,” Kasoulides told me during an interview on Tuesday morning. “We are comfortable that things will be done in a way that Cyprus will not be by-stepped in any possible use in operations,” he said. Listen to Nathan Morley's extended conversation with Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides: