Cameron: The Result of the Referendum on Britain's Exit from the European Union Must Be Respected

The Prime Minister of Britain, in the first session of Parliament following the referendum on leaving or remaining in the European Union, stated that the result of this referendum must be respected but mentioned that formal negotiations for exiting the European Union will not take place at this stage. According to reports, David Cameron emphasized on Monday, July 7, that 'there is no doubt about the result... I clearly state, and the cabinet also agreed this morning, that this decision must be respected.' In recent days, some reports indicated attempts to conduct a new referendum and a petition with over three million signatures had been published in the media to change the outcome of the referendum held last Thursday, but it seems that with the Prime Minister's statements on Monday, this possibility has been ruled out. Mr. Cameron stated, 'The British government will not invoke Article 50 at this stage... This is our sovereign decision and will be made for Britain and only for Britain.' Article 50 pertains to the request of countries to leave the European Union and the decision-making process regarding this request. He added that the result of this referendum 'is not what we think is good for Britain,' but this result must be respected and executed 'in the best way.' The leader of the Conservative Party emphasized that there will be no immediate changes regarding the status of European citizens in the United Kingdom. He stated, 'Britain is leaving the European Union, but it should not turn its back on Europe or the rest of the world. We must define the kind of relationship we want to have with the European Union.' The Prime Minister of Britain attempted to calm financial markets that had severely fallen as a result of this referendum, but at the same time said, 'The situation will be difficult... the situation will be beyond a normal state.' Mr. Cameron also condemned the anti-immigration incidents that occurred after this referendum, stating, 'We have a fundamental responsibility to unite the country.' Some reports indicated attacks on Polish nationals residing in Britain after the voting last Thursday. The Prime Minister mentioned in Parliament that he spoke with his Polish counterpart in the afternoon and expressed his concerns about these incidents, assuring his counterpart that 'everything will be done to protect Polish citizens in Britain.' He reiterated that he will leave the formal negotiations for Britain's exit from the European Union to his successor. Mr. Cameron stated on Friday, after the result of the referendum on leaving the European Union was determined, that he would resign from the leadership of the Conservative Party in October during the party's conference so that a new leader and consequently a new Prime Minister of Britain could be elected. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the German government stated on Monday in a press conference that 'the European Council will only address the issue of Britain's exit when Britain formally requests it under Article 50.' According to Reuters, Steffen Seibert, spokesperson for Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, emphasized that as long as Britain does not invoke Article 50 for leaving the European Union, no informal negotiations will take place between London and Brussels. Angela Merkel also, in one of her last comments regarding Britain's exit from the European Union, stated that actions must be taken to prevent other countries from leaving the European Union.