Boris Johnson says Britain not abandoning 'leading role' in Europe

New British foreign minister and top Brexit backer Boris Johnson pledged Monday Britain would continue to play a leading role in Europe as he met his European Union peers for the first time.

"We have to give effect to the will of the people and leave the European Union but ... we are not going in any way to abandon our leading role in European participation," Johnson said as he arrived for an EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels.

Johnson is meeting with his European counterparts for the first time, in what will likely be a fence-mending trip to Brussels for the outspoken politician who led the victorious Brexit campaign.

The gathering, which kicks off with a breakfast attended by US Secretary of State John Kerry, marks Johnson's first high-profile foray onto the diplomatic scene after his appointment last week by Prime Minister Theresa May stunned European capitals...
 [i24news.tv]
18/7/16
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