NICOSIA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Cypriot Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides and EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier discussed issues related to the British bases in Cyprus and actions to be taken in case of a disorderly exit of Britain from the European Union, the minister said in a statement issued here on Monday.
Christodoulides said after meeting Barnier in Brussels that they agreed that the risk of a hard Brexit is growing as the days go by without a ratification of the agreement reached with Britain.
He added that a European Commission official, deputy secretary general Celine Gauer, will visit Cyprus on March 5, during which she will have the opportunity to examine emergency measures taken on a national level in areas concerning Cyprus.
Christodoulides said Cyprus attaches great importance to EU27 unity and to a collective handling of the issue of a hard Brexit, and also agrees that the Brexit deal cannot be renegotiated.
However, Cyprus has agreed on a bilateral level with Britain on the rights of British citizens in Cyprus and Cypriots living or working in the British bases in Cyprus.
Britain foreign secretary and Cypriot foreign minister have exchanged letters pledging to apply the provisions of the Brexit deal in case of a disorderly exit.
Britain offered to apply the rights all EU citizens enjoy now to about 11 thousand Cypriots living or working inside the British bases, and Cyprus will accord EU rights to all British citizens living on its side.
