Sovereign base areas administration addresses concerns over antenna project in Akrotiri

The Sovereign Base Area Administration (SBAA) has responded to public concerns regarding plans to modernize infrastructure at the Akrotiri Salt Lake site. While local reports, including those from Phileleftheros, mention the installation of 32 new antennas and the acquisition of approximately 340 skala of community land, the SBAA characterizes the project as an infrastructure upgrade. The administration stated that any land acquisition would adhere to legal procedures and include compensation. To address health concerns, the SBAA cited a 2007 study from Occupational and Environmental Medicine, which found no link between military antenna installations in Cyprus and increased rates of cancer or birth defects. The administration maintains that current monitoring data is shared with the Republic of Cyprus and has offered to install additional monitoring units. Notably, the SBAA did not address the specific number of antennas or ongoing legal challenges from the Kourion Municipality and the Merra Akrotiri Management Committee.