Baltics “in shock,” regret over Brexit, but respect decision

  • 2016-06-24
  • BNS/LETA/TBT STAFF/RIGA/TALLINN/VILNIUS

Leaders and representatives from across the Baltics have voiced their concerns regarding the outcome of the EU referendum in Britain Friday.  While many had hoped to avoid a Brexit, they have expressed a desire to remain close allies with the UK.

"We're in shock. Literally, in shock. The majority of us had hoped the Remain would win by a narrow majority," Dalia Asanaviciute, head of the UK's Lithuanian community, told BNS. "Nobody knows what will be next."

"We regret about this decision but citizens of the United Kingdom have expressed their will, and it should be respected," says the Lithuanian Ambassador in London Asta Skaisgiryte.

The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is unhappy with the outcome of the referendum vote, BNS learned from the ministry.

Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis voiced regret over the UK’s decision to leave the EU, the President’s Chancellery reported.

However, Vejonis emphasised that the UK will remain an important ally and an international partner for Latvia and the EU also in the future.

“It is clear that the UK’s decision will influence and change the EU. The bloc’s member states should do everything possible to retain the achievements of the integration process, at the same time, promoting economic growth, global competitiveness and public support,” said Vejonis.

The choice of the British voters to leave the EU should be respected, Latvian parliament speaker Inara Murniece told BNS.

She voiced regret over the outcome of the British referendum. "At the same time, the UK is and will remain an important ally and international partner for Latvia and we will co-operate with it, including in security and defense issues," said Murniece.

"Latvia will participate in negotiations on the further co-operation model between the UK and the EU. Latvia will defend its national interests and also interests of Latvian nationals living in the UK.”

Andrus Ansip, the European Commission vice president for the digital single market, echoed this sentiment of continued partnership.

"Disappointed but respect the decision of British people. Now need clarity about next steps and swift process. UK should remain a close partner," the former longtime prime minister of Estonia said on Twitter.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius also hopes to keep the UK a close ally, he said Friday.

"We do believe the United Kingdom will remain a close ally as it will always be so in the areas of security, freedom, and strengthening of democracy. We had this special feeling at the UN Security Council,” the minister told BNS.

Nevertheless, he acknowledged that that a "sad morning" dawned on Friday for those believing in the future of the Community.

"The longest night was decisive and a sad morning dawned for all of us who believe and will believe in the future of the European Union. Of course, I can say that we regret about the results as be had hoped for different ones but we respect the will of citizens of the United Kingdom and they took an active part in the referendum,” Linkevicius said.

In his opinion, the British exit will weaken the European Union but he refrained from forecasting how that would happen specifically, stating that it would be best to wait for Britain's official statement as to how it will withdraw.

"Without the United Kingdom, that union, of course, will be weaker. But that stress test should unite those who are determined to continue with this project. It's too soon to speak about specific numbers and losses, we should wait for Britain's official statement, that exit scale, as we have already spoken about various types of further relations, including the Norwegian or Swiss variant," Linkevicius said.

Skaisgiryte also hopes for Britain to remain a close ally, especially in the areas of security and trade.

According to preliminary results, the UK on Thursday’s referendum has voted to leave the EU as 52 per cent of voters supported this move, and 48 per cent supported the UK remaining in the EU. Voters turnout in the referendum was 72.2 per cent.