Kerry talks Brexit ahead of visit to EU, UK capitals
US Secretary of State John Kerry makes comments about Brexit ahead of visiting the British and EU capitals.
“One country has made a decision, obviously it is a decision that the United States had hoped would go the other way. But it didn't, and so we begin with a fundamental respect for voters,” he said alongside his Italian counterpart, Paolo Gentiloni in Rome, on Sunday.
Kerry’s tour of the capitals, set to begin Monday, comes in the aftermath of a referendum, in which the Britons voted to quit the European Union.
The secretary of state said ties both with Britain and the EU are very important to Washington and the situation can be dealt with “in a sensible, thoughtful way.”
"I am absolutely convinced, President [Barack] Obama is absolutely convinced, that we will be able to work through this in a sensible, thoughtful way that takes the best strengths of the EU, the best strengths of the market place, the best interests of our national security and international security and works to keep them moving in the right direction for our countries. I have no doubt about our ability to be able to do that and so we will continue.”
Minimizing disruption
Kerry said the US “values” its relations with Britain regardless of the referendum result, further calling on Brussels to address concerns of people in other countries.
“The United States [will]… have a very close and special relationship with Great Britain; we value that relationship; that does not change because of this vote,” he stated. “On the other hand, there are steps that Europe needs to take to respond to the expression of voters and to the concerns of people in other countries."
In his planned visit to the capitals, Kerry said he would call on leaders to get engaged in the process following Brexit “smartly.”
"The most important thing is that all of us as leaders, work together to provide as much continuity, as much stability, as much certainty as possible in order for the market place to understand that there are ways to minimize disruption, there are ways to smartly move ahead in order to protect the values and interests that we share in common."
On Thursday, 51.9 percent of voters voted in favor of leaving the EU while 48.1 percent voted to remain in the bloc.
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