the council of europe made repeated warnings to cyprus that it could face expulsion or other political sanctions if it delayed any further in complying with the court's decision in "modinos v. cyprus". as a result, the bill decriminalizing private homosexual acts between consenting adults was passed by the house of representatives on may 21, 1998, just eight days prior to the may 29 deadline set by the council. it was passed with 11 of the house's 56 members intentionally absent. 36 mps voted for the bill, eight voted against it, and one mp chose to abstain.