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Referendum result means Turkey now "far away" from Europe: Austrian chancellor

Xinhua, April 17, 2017 Adjust font size:

Senior Austrian officials including Chancellor Christian Kern responded to the outcome of Sunday's referendum result in Turkey, calling for an end to EU accession negotiations.

The Austria Press Agency cited Kern as saying on Monday that the result means the "accession perspectives have de facto been buried." The outcome in his view means Turkey is now "far away" from its way toward Europe.

Austria's Minister for Foreign Affairs Sebastian Kurz said the result is a "clear signal against the European Union."

In a press release Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen said the "yes" vote victory in the Turkish referendum represents a move towards an "authoritarian presidential system." He said the developments in Turkey are "cause for great concern," and that cooperation with the EU will become even more difficult as a result of the referendum result.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared victory in Sunday's constitutional reform referendum that will give him sweeping powers, amid an outcry from the opposition that the voting was rigged. Endit