Negotiations will begin between the Republic of Cyprus and the UK regarding the rights of Cypriots residing or working within the Sovereign British Base Areas in Cyprus, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ioannis Kasoulides has said.
Replying to a journalist`s question after the conclusion of Wednesday`s Cabinet meeting, the Minister pointed out that the outcome of the negotiations will be incorporated in the Treaty regulating the UK`s exit from the EU.
Meanwhile, yesterday, the Minister told a House Committee that substantive negotiations between the Republic of Cyprus and Britain regarding the British Bases in Cyprus after Brexit will begin on the 11th of October.
Kasoulides said that Ambassador Minas Hadjimichael has been appointed as head of the negotiations on behalf of the Cypriot side.
The Foreign Minister confirmed that the European Commission has agreed that no steps will be taken unless there is agreement from the Republic of Cyprus and gave Cyprus the green light to enter into bilateral negotiations.
The Minister also said that Brexit will affect mostly Cyprus, Ireland, Malta and probably the Netherlands as well.
He pointed out that the UK is the second biggest commercial partner of Cyprus and the first in terms of services and investments.
The UK has retained two military bases in Cyprus when the island gained its independence from British colonial rule in 1960.