REPORT: World leaders react to British vote to quit the European Union

Nicole Hajal Author: Nicole Hajal
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2016-06-24 | 06:26
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REPORT: World leaders react to British vote to quit the European Union
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5min
REPORT: World leaders react to British vote to quit the European Union

European Council President Donald Tusk said that the European Union is “determined to keep its unity as 27 states,” after Britain's referendum vote to leave the European Union.

 

“I will propose that we start a period of wider reflection on the future of our union,” he said.

France:

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Friday he was "sad for the United Kingdom" after Britons voted to leave the European Union in a referendum, and that Europe must react.

"Europe will continue but it must react and rediscover the confidence of its peoples. It's urgent," Ayrault said on twitter. 

French President Francois Hollande said the Britain's Brexit vote seriously challenged the European Union, adding that he would take initiatives to jolt the bloc back on track.

Hollande said the EU must focus on key priorities like security and defense, border protection and job creation as well as reinforcing the euro zone, while leaving member states to handle what falls to them.

"The British vote is a tough test for Europe," Hollande said in a televised address, adding that he would travel to Berlin on Monday to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel and possibly Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

French National Front leader Marine Le Pen called for a similar referendum in France, changed her Twitter profile picture to a Union Jack and declared "Victory for freedom!"

 

Netherlands:

Similarly, Dutch far right leader Geert Wilders, also demanding a referendum, said: "We want be in charge of our own country, our own money, our own borders, and our own immigration policy."

Germany:

Britain's vote to leave the European Union is deeply regrettable and marks a watershed moment for European integration, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday.

"We have to recognize the decision of the majority of the British people with deep regret today," she said. "There is no point beating about the bush: today is a watershed for Europe, it is a watershed for the European unification process."

Scotland:

A second Scottish independence referendum is “highly likely” and should take place before Britain leaves the European Union, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Friday.

Scotland voted to stay in the EU by 62 to 38 percent in a referendum on Thursday (June 23), putting it at odds with the United Kingdom as a whole, which voted 52-48 in favor of leaving.

Donald Trump:

US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said Britons had retaken control of their country by voting to leave the European Union.

In Scotland to reopen a golf resort, the wealthy New York businessman stopped to take questions from reporters.

Asked about Thursday's down-to-the-wire British vote, Trump said: "They took back control of their country. It's a great thing." 
 
"People are angry, all over the world, they're angry," said Trump.

"They're angry over borders, they're angry over people coming into the country and taking over. Nobody even knows who they are. They're angry about many, many things." 

NATO:

NATO's chief says the British vote to leave the European Union shouldn't affect its status as a reliable and key member of the US-led military alliance.

 

"As it defines the next chapter in its relationship with the EU, I know that the United Kingdom's position in NATO will remain unchanged," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Friday in a statement.

"The UK will remain a strong and committed NATO ally, and will continue to play its leading role in our alliance."

Kremlin:

Russia wants the European Union to remain a major economic power, the Kremlin said on Friday, commenting on Britain's vote in favor of leaving the EU.

"Moscow wants the EU to remain a major economic power which is prosperous, stable and predictable," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a conference call with journalists.

"We have a pretty heavy burden of uneasy ties with Great Britain," he said. "We hope that in the new realities, an understanding of the need for good relations with our country will prevail."

 
Barack Obama: 
 

US President Barack Obama said on Friday he respected Britain's vote to leave the European Union, and that the United States' relationship with Britain would endure.

 

"The people of the United Kingdom have spoken, and we respect their decision," Obama said in a statement. "The United Kingdom and the European Union will remain indispensable partners of the United States even as they begin negotiating their ongoing relationship."

 

 
 
REUTERS/AP
 
For more details, watch the full report in the video above

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