BRUSSELS: German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday said that negotiations with Britain could not be based on "cherry-picking" after the nation voted to leave the European Union early this week.
"No one can expect to stop having duties and yet keep all the privileges. Negotiations cannot be based on cherry-picking," Merkel said at a European Union meeting, adding "bilateral talks with the UK will continue".
She said Germany had a "special interest" in the unity of the European Union and a "historical responsibility" towards it. "We wish to keep developing it," she said.
"Europe has weathered many challenges in the past and a step forward needs to be taken with European integration".
"In next ten years we wish to make Europe a successful autonomic economic area," she said.