UK endorses EU call for de-dramatizing Irish border issue
The UK's Brexit minister Dominic Raab has rejected reports in the media that London is ready to make compromises on the issue of Irish border in the talks with the European Union on Britain’s withdrawal from the bloc.
However, the EU is right in its call to de-dramatize the issue, Raab acknowledged on Tuesday. He said during a Conservative Party conference in Birmingham that Northern Ireland was a substantive issue in Brexit negotiations, but he insisted that the point it had been overblown for political purposes.
By saying this, Raab was indirectly referring to some media reports on Monday suggesting that Britain was preparing to offer compromises to the EU on how the Irish border will be administered after Britain leaves the EU in March.
He also welcomed EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier’s proposal for using technology to solve issues about regulatory checks on certain goods after Brexit. However, he reiterated that any solution to the problem, which has been a sticking point in talks on Brexit, should guarantee that there would be no hard border on the island of Ireland.
“That involves partly technological solutions and partly I suspect ultimately an equitable sharing of some of the political discomfort of how you make sure there is no visual, tangible presence at the borders but you still have whether it is regulatory checks or customs checks ... or consistency from the EU.” said Raab.
Britain is in the midst of some tough negotiations with the EU to reach a deal on how the two sides should regulate trade and other issues after Brexit. London fears EU proposals for keeping Northern Ireland under its customs rule will lead to the revival of the sectarian tensions on the island, which also includes the EU state of Ireland.
The government of Prime Minister Theresa May has suggested that the entire United Kingdom could remain part of the EU customs territory for years after Brexit until a solution is found to the issue. The EU rejected the proposal in a recent summit in Austria, saying it needs to be reworked.
Sources said Monday the UK government is planning to allow the EU to impose some regulatory checks on certain goods moving between the British mainland and Northern Ireland. Raab said Monday those reports were over-speculating.
How Cameron squirmed after being grilled on Israeli terrorism against Iran
London protests: Stop arming Israel
Former minister says UK should consider sending troops to Ukraine
VIDEO | Erdogan breaks silence, backs Iran’s reprisal attack on Israel
IRGC warns of 'tit-for-tat' retaliation if Israel attacks Iran's nuclear facilities
Israel retreats, delays striking back at Iran after US call: Sources
Qatar says reassessing role as mediator in Gaza truce talks
EU to expand sanctions on Iran over retaliation against Israel
'US, West must abandon double standards towards Israel's acts of terror'
April 17: ‘Axis of Resistance’ operations against Israeli occupation
UN Security Council to vote on full Palestinian UN membership on Friday
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
