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Russia and Iran delighted at UK's rejection of EU Russia and Iran delight in UK's rejection of EU
(35 minutes later)
World leaders beyond the European Union have begun the process of adjusting their relationship with the UK in the wake of the vote to leave, as longstanding rivals in Moscow and Tehran expressed barely disguised glee. World leaders beyond the EU have begun the process of adjusting their relationship with the UK in the wake of the vote to leave, as longstanding rivals in Moscow and Tehran expressed barely disguised glee.
A top military official in the Iranian capital predicted that Scotland and Ireland would soon be free of “the tyrannical rule of the monarchy, the so-called Great Britain”.A top military official in the Iranian capital predicted that Scotland and Ireland would soon be free of “the tyrannical rule of the monarchy, the so-called Great Britain”.
In Moscow, Vladimir Putin’s office did not provided an immediate reaction, but other officials portrayed the result as a good thing. The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, sought to rebut suggestions that Brexit and the consequent weakening of the EU played into his hands.
Alexei Pushkov, the head of the Russian parliament’s foreign affairs committee, noted that the vote showed: “The people’s opinion is dangerous for the political goals of EU ruling elites.” Speaking to reporters on a visit to Uzbekistan, he said it would have “positive and negative consequences” for Russia and that “the situation will correct itself in the near future”. He put the outcome down to Britain’s concerns over migration and security, and dissatisfaction with EU bureaucracy.
He rejected suggestions that Putin had sought to promote Brexit as a means of dividing Europe as a power. “Russia has nothing to do with this,” Pushkov tweeted, arguing it was a “personal failure by Barack Obama”. Alexei Pushkov, the head of the Russian parliament’s foreign affairs committee, said: “The people’s opinion is dangerous for the political goals of EU ruling elites.”
He rejected suggestions that Putin had sought to promote Brexit as a means of dividing Europe as a power. “Russia has nothing to do with this,” he tweeted, saying it was a “personal failure by Barack Obama”.
The US president, who campaigned vigorously for a remain vote while in the UK in April and made clear that the special relationship worked best with the UK in the EU, was regularly updated on the referendum results through the night.The US president, who campaigned vigorously for a remain vote while in the UK in April and made clear that the special relationship worked best with the UK in the EU, was regularly updated on the referendum results through the night.
Related: Britain must stay in EU 'to make world more prosperous', says ObamaRelated: Britain must stay in EU 'to make world more prosperous', says Obama
The White House said he would talk to David Cameron during the course of Friday, in a statement that preceded Cameron’s resignation announcement. The White House would release further comment “as soon as appropriate”. The White House said Obama would talk to David Cameron on Friday in a statement that preceded Cameron’s resignation announcement. The White House would release further comment “as soon as appropriate”, it said.
Beijing adopted a similarly cautious tone. President Xi Jinping had argued during a visit to Britain last October that China wanted Britain to stay in a united EU, to strengthen China’s bond with Europe. Beijing adopted a similarly cautious tone. The Chinese president, Xi Jinping, had argued during a visit to Britain last October that China wanted Britain to stay in a united EU to strengthen China’s bond with Europe.
On Friday, a foreign ministry spokeswoman signalled that while Beijing would “continue to work to build a sound relationship with the UK”, the bilateral relationship would have to be reviewed in light of Britain’s decision.On Friday, a foreign ministry spokeswoman signalled that while Beijing would “continue to work to build a sound relationship with the UK”, the bilateral relationship would have to be reviewed in light of Britain’s decision.
“It is true that with Britain leaving EU it will have an impact on different fields,” spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a briefing in Beijing. “It is true that with Britain leaving EU it will have an impact on different fields,” Hua Chunying said at a briefing in Beijing.
She added: “Relevant departments [in China] will need time to go through this issue to determine the impact on China’s trade pacts and other agreements with the EU and Britain.” “Relevant departments [in China] will need time to go through this issue to determine the impact on China’s trade pacts and other agreements with the EU and Britain.”
The Turkish government, meanwhile, said that Brexit was “bad for Europe”. Ömer Çelik, Turkey’s EU minister, said: “Isolationism would destroy European values. Turkey worked with the European Union to address the refugee crisis, one of the greatest challenges Europe faces today. What Europe needs is a fresh start including an update to existing mechanisms. We respect the British people’s decision. But the decision is bad for Europe.” The Turkish government said that Brexit was “bad for Europe”. Ömer Çelik, the country’s EU minister, said: “Isolationism would destroy European values. Turkey worked with the European Union to address the refugee crisis, one of the greatest challenges Europe faces today. What Europe needs is a fresh start including an update to existing mechanisms. We respect the British people’s decision, but the decision is bad for Europe.”
Earlier in the week, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan had hinted that Turkey might itself abandon hopes of joining the EU. But on Friday, Erdogan suggested Turkey was still interested in joining. “If [European leaders] would like to safeguard European values, they must leave aside anti-Turkey sentiments and promote closer cooperation with Turkey.” Earlier in the week, the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, had hinted that Turkey might itself abandon hopes of joining the EU. On Friday, however, he suggested the country was still interested in joining.
The possibility of Turkey joining the EU played a key role in the final weeks of the Brexit campaign, with Leave campaigners claiming that a vote to remain would soon be followed by Turkey’s accession to the union. “If [European leaders] would like to safeguard European values, they must leave aside anti-Turkey sentiments and promote closer cooperation with Turkey,” he said.
The leave vote was greeted more positively, however, in Russia and Iran. The possibility of Turkey joining the EU played a key role in the final weeks of the Brexit campaign, with leave campaigners saying a vote to remain would soon be followed by Turkey’s accession.
“Without the UK in the EU there won’t be anyone to so zealously defend the sanctions against us,” Moscow mayor Sergey Sobyanin observed, while the presidential business ombudsman Boris Titov said: “Leaving will tear the EU away from the Anglo-Saxons, that is from the US.” A Russian state TV anchor observed drily on the sterling slide: “It’s no joke; the pound is the new ruble.” Moscow’s mayor, Sergey Sobyanin, was rather more forthright in his reaction than Putin.“Without the UK in the EU there won’t be anyone to so zealously defend the sanctions against us,” he said.
In Tehran, Hamid Aboutalebi, a senior political aide to President Hassan Rouhani, tweeted that Brexit created a “historic opportunity” for Iran, but did not elaborate how the country could benefit from the situation. And the deputy chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, Massoud Jazayeri, was quoted by the Fars news agency as saying that “the European Union is a pawn in the hands of America”. Russia’s presidential business ombudsman, Boris Titov, said: “Leaving will tear the EU away from the Anglo-Saxons, that is from the US.” Reacting to sterling’s slide on the foreign exchanges, a Russian state TV anchor observed drily: “It’s no joke. The pound is the new rouble.”
In Tehran, Hamid Aboutalebi, a senior political aide to the country’s president, Hassan Rouhani, tweeted that Brexit created a “historic opportunity” for Iran, but did not elaborate on how the country could benefit from the situation.
The deputy chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, Massoud Jazayeri, was quoted by the Fars news agency as saying “the European Union is a pawn in the hands of America”.
“England should pay the price of years of imperialism and committing crimes against humanity,” Jazayeri said, saying that the price would be Scotland and other parts of the UK demanding independence. “The people of Ireland, Scotland and others have the right to bring themselves out of the tyrannical rule of the monarchy, the so-called Great Britain”.“England should pay the price of years of imperialism and committing crimes against humanity,” Jazayeri said, saying that the price would be Scotland and other parts of the UK demanding independence. “The people of Ireland, Scotland and others have the right to bring themselves out of the tyrannical rule of the monarchy, the so-called Great Britain”.
Related: Exclusive: Nato chief says UK staying in the EU is key to fighting terrorismRelated: Exclusive: Nato chief says UK staying in the EU is key to fighting terrorism
Like many other western leaders, the Nato secretary general was left trying to make the best of a result he had strongly argued against. Like many other western leaders, Nato’s secretary general was left trying to make the best of a result he had strongly argued against.
Jens Stoltenberg had argued on the eve of the vote that British membership of EU contributed to the security against terrorism and other threats, said that UK would “remain a strong and committed Nato ally”, but noted that the weakening of the Europe made Nato cohesion all the more critical. Jens Stoltenberg, who had argued on the eve of the vote that British membership of the EU contributed to security against terrorism and other threats, said the UK would “remain a strong and committed Nato ally”, and noted that the weakening of Europe made Nato cohesion all the more significant.
“Today, as we face more instability and uncertainty, Nato is more important than ever as a platform for cooperation among European Allies, and between Europe and North America,” Stoltenberg said. “Today, as we face more instability and uncertainty, Nato is more important than ever as a platform for cooperation among European allies, and between Europe and North America,” he said.
Additional reporting by Stuart Leavenworth in Beijing and Patrick Kingsley in IstanbulAdditional reporting by Stuart Leavenworth in Beijing and Patrick Kingsley in Istanbul