MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Norway will do its utmost to keep close bilateral relations with the United Kingdom regardless of the conclusions London may draw following its decision to leave the European Union, a lawmaker from the Norwegian Christian Democratic Party Geir S. Toskedal told Sputnik on Friday.
His comments came in response to a statement by Norwegian European Affairs Minister Elisabeth Vik Aspaker who said earlier this week that it was not necessarily in Oslo's interest if Britain joined the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which includes non-EU members Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
"The UK can rest assured that Norway will strive to keep our close relationship in respect of our two nations’ history and shared values, no matter which conclusions the UK government may reach after Brexit. We respect the need of the UK government to decide on their way forward after Brexit," the lawmaker, who is his party's EFTA representative, said.
10 August 2016, 13:31 GMT
The United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave the European Union on June 23, with almost 52 percent of the voters supporting Brexit. Following the vote, concerns emerged about Britain losing access to the EU single market upon the country's official withdrawal from the bloc. Applying for EFTA membership is a main option to keep access to the EU common market without the EU membership.
