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07Apr16

Russian PM: Dutch referendum shows Europeans' attitude to Ukrainian political system

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has called the results of the Dutch referendum on the EU-Ukraine association agreement "an indicator of the Europeans' attitude to the Ukrainian political system."

"The results of the Dutch referendum on Ukraine's association with the EU are an indicator of the Europeans' attitude to the Ukrainian political system," the Russian prime minister twitted on Thursday.

A referendum on the ratification of the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine was held in the Netherlands on Wednesday, April 6.

According to the preliminary results of the vote, 61.1% had said "No", with 38% supporting a deal, media reports said. Turnout is projected at 32%, above the 30% threshold of voters needed to be valid but within a 3% margin of error.

The referendum's official results will be announced by the Dutch Electoral Council on April 12. However, it is unlikely that they will be very different from the preliminary results announced overnight to Thursday. This means that the government of The Netherlands should now start thinking what to do next.

According to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, it is not ruled out that the country may refuse to ratify the EU-Ukraine association deal. He told reporters that if the referendum is recognized valid, this would entail corresponding consequences. Rutte said he would not be rushed into action, saying he wanted to discuss the result in his Cabinet, at the European Union and in the Dutch Parliament, a process that could take "days if not weeks." "My view is that if the turnout is more than 30%, with such a victory for the 'No' camp, ratification cannot go ahead without discussion."

[Source: Itar Tass, Moscow, 07Apr16]
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