Canada has been permitted to set up a military facility in Cyprus to help withdraw its troops from Afghanistan, the Mediterranean island's government said. An official statement denied news reports that Canada was allowed to set up a military base on the island. "No military base will be established,"the statement added. It said the government of Canada had requested the permission of Cyprus to use the island for transit purposes during the withdrawal of its military forces from Afghanistan and their return to Canada. Canadian forces are stationed in Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force, which was set up after a UN Security Council decision, until spring 2012. The statement also said existing infrastructure and services will be used for transit purposes and all arrangements will be made in cooperation with and under the supervision of the Cypriot authorities.