“Historic” deal that boosts development in British Bases comes into effect on 9 May

Monday marks a historic day for residents and property owners in the British Bases as the lifting of restrictions on property development within the non-military areas of the British Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) will come into effect.

A press release issued by the director of the President of the Republic’s press office, Andreas Iosif, said that on Monday morning the implementation of the agreement achieved n 15th January 2014 will come into effect. The agreement was signed by President Anastasiades and former British Prime Minister David Cameron.

The agreement opens up significant economic, tourist and commercial prospects in municipalities and communities that fall within the Bases, Iosif said.

On Monday, a meeting for the prevention of fires will be held at the Presidential Palace with the participation of the ministers of Finance, Interior, Defence, Justice, Agriculture, Police Chief, National Guard commander and the head of the Fire Service.

It will examine the measures taken by the government to handle fires and evaluate the services’ level of readiness as well as to find out what needs to be done and how the measures taken by the government to prevent and put down fires are progressing.

Iosif reminded that the government’s multi-billion euro recovery and resilience plan, ‘Cyprus Tomorrow’ includes funds which exceed 18 million euros for prevention of fires.

The cabinet will also convene on Tuesday while on the same day, President Anastasiades will host dinner in honour of the Croatian Prime Minister who will conduct an official visit to the island.

Andrej Plenkovic will be officially received at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday, 11 May. After a tet-a-tet meeting with the President, enlarged discussions will take place which are expected to reiterate the excellent level of bilateral relations.

They will also examine issues of European interest, developments in Ukraine, the EU’s energy safety, immigration and exchange views on regional issues of common interest among which developments in the wider region of East Mediterranean and Western Balkans. President Anastasiades will also inform his interlocutor on the situation on the Cyprus problem and initiatives to restart talks as well as Turkey’s intransigent positions.

On the same day, President Anastasiades will lay the foundation stone of the ‘Nikos K. Shakolas’ Medical School and Health Science Building of the University of Cyprus.

On Thursday, 12 May, President Anastasiades will hold a press conference to analyse the reforms, policies and development projects totalling 315 million euro, as part of the Cyprus-tomorrow plan in the field of welfare. He will also give details about the work produced based on his election pledges.

On Friday he will take part in an event for the presentation of the “Welfare state – Society without exclusions” which concerns the government’s benefits’ policy. The presentation will be held at the Presidential Palace by the Labour and Social Insurance Minister as well as the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare.

On the same day, President Anastasiades will receive former President of the Hellenic Republic Procopis Pavlopoulos who will be in Cyprus to attend a memorial service of the late Vasos Lyssarides. Anastasiades will also address a gathering on the same evening to mark Lyssarides’ contribution.

On Saturday, 14 May, President Anastasiades will inaugurate the wing of Overseas Greeks at the Melathron Rehabilitation Centre in Palodia village. The President will be honoured for supporting the centre’s work.

Source: Cyprus News Agency