NICOSIA, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Administration of the British bases in Cyprus has confirmed reports that personnel in one of the two bases has been relocated and staff is being cut back for reasons of economy, but denied reports that this is part of a downgrading.

    In a written statement issued on Monday, the Administration of the "Sovereign Base Areas" said the relocation of military manpower from the Dekelia base to the Akrotiri base has been carried out until refurbishment of their barracks is completed.

    The statement was issued in response to reports that the Dekelia base is being downgraded and its military personnel and civilian staff is being cut back.

    Britain retained the two areas at Akrotiri and Dekelia when it granted independence to Cyprus in 1960. Both are on the south coast of the island and are being used as military bases, the one at Akrotiri being an important NATO air base providing support for troops in Afghanistan.

    The statement said the only troops returned to Britain are 80 military personnel attached to 62 Support Squadron Engineers that are being disbanded. Civilian staff was made redundant.

    It added that the bases administration are examining ways to make operations "more efficient and within its means."

    The statement added that "the land offer made by the UK Government on 11th November in support of the ongoing Cyprus talks is in no way linked" to personnel reduction.

    Britain has offered to hand back almost half of the total territory of its bases in Cyprus, adding up to 98 square miles (254 square kilometers), so as to give an incentive for reaching a solution in the negotiations conducted by the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities.