London, United Kingdom. Cyprus and the United Kingdom have agreed to upgrade their strategic dialogue, strengthen cooperation on Middle East developments and advance discussions on issues concerning the British bases, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said following an official visit to London.
Kombos met UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Minister for Europe Stephen Doughty, with bilateral relations, regional developments and the Cyprus problem among the main issues discussed.
Strategic dialogue and regional coordination
The two countries agreed that the next round of the Cyprus-UK Strategic Dialogue will be held at ministerial level before the end of the year, following an interim review in the autumn.
They also agreed to establish an annual dialogue on developments in the Middle East and the wider region, aimed at strengthening coordination on regional security and stability.
British bases and Schengen arrangements
A significant part of the discussions focused on Schengen-related matters concerning the British bases.
Kombos said the two governments agreed on the basis for advancing the technical and operational arrangements required for Cyprus to meet its obligations ahead of its planned accession to the Schengen area.
The Cypriot side also raised issues affecting Republic of Cyprus citizens living within the British bases. Kombos said the matters were categorised according to their complexity and urgency, and both sides agreed to hold a follow-up meeting in September to establish a mechanism for examining and resolving them.
Antenna system and Cyprus problem
Among the issues discussed was the planned installation of a new antenna system within the British bases. Kombos said Nicosia expects a prompt and positive response from the British authorities.
The talks also covered the latest developments on the Cyprus problem.