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Erdogan: Turkey may have Brexit-like referendum on EU

Türkiye Materials 26 March 2017 00:49 (UTC +04:00)

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that Turkey may have a Brexit-style referendum on whether to continue European Union membership process or not after the April 16 constitutional referendum, Anadolu reported.

Speaking during the Turkish-British Tatlidil Forum in southern Antalya province, Erdogan said Turkey would likely review its ties with the bloc after its April 16 referendum on sweeping constitutional changes.

"You [Britain] have made a decision with Brexit, there may be different things after April 16."

"We have a referendum on April 16. After it, we may hold a Brexit-like referendum on the [EU] negotiations. No matter what our nation decides, we will obey it," Erdogan said.

In June 2016, more than half of British voters voted in favor of ending the U.K.’s 46-year long membership.

Turkey applied for membership of the EU in 1987; accession talks began in 2005.

However, negotiations hit a stalemate in 2007 because of Turkey’s position on the Cyprus issue. Also, the German and French governments opposed the country’s full EU membership.

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