REFILE Adieu, ciao, auf Wiedersehen: Leaders react to the Brexit launch

Berlin (dpa) - March 29, 2017, will go down in history as the day that Britain officially began its departure from the European Union, after 44 years of often reluctant membership.While it was a cause for celebration among Brexit supporters, European politicians reacted to the news in more sombre tones.---FRANCE LOOKS TO THE REMAINING 27French President Francois Hollande took the triggering of Article 50 as an opportunity to talk about the future of the bloc with its remaining 27 members."[I]f we want to look at our future, it should be, first of all, real unity for the 27, but also with the possibility of going faster for some countries that so decide," he told a gathering of French residents in Jakarta.---GERMANY WANTS TO STAY FRIENDS"We are losing a strong and important member state," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said following a telephone call with British Prime Minister Theresa May.Her vice chancellor, Sigmar Gabriel, struck a more upbeat note on Twitter: "Let‘s stay friends, dear Brits! We need each other, including after #Brexit. You‘ll stay our neighbour and the EU is still yours."---AUSTRIA WARNS OF MONEY WOESFor Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern, one of the main issues is Britain‘s considerable debts with the European Union."Considering the reported estimates of up to 60 billion euros [65 billion dollars] that the Britons still owe the EU, this will surely turn into a tough struggle," he said in a statement.Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz showed more sympathy for Britain‘s decision to leave. "Brexit has shown that citizens‘ worries and concerns must be taken seriously."As Britain will no longer contribute to the EU budget, the remaining countries should consider slashing costs rather than raising everyone‘s dues, Kurz added.---DENMARK LAMENTS A FAMILY BREAK-UP"Now it‘s farewell to Britain," said Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen in a statement. "In two years, the European family goes from 28 to 27 members. That is really sad.""[I hope] the divorce between the EU and Britain can take place in a decent manner, and that we can keep close ties in future. That is in everyone‘s interest," Rasmussen said.Yet, "Britain‘s decision to leave the EU and the single market will have consequences. Rights and obligations go hand in hand," he said.---SWEDEN KEEPS A STIFF UPPER LIPSweden "regrets the British decision" to leave the EU, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven says, noting Britain has been "a close and valuable partner." Lofven welcomed the "constructive tone" in British Prime Minister Theresa May‘s letter triggering its exit from the bloc, adding that he wants "structured and result-oriented negotiations so that [the EU], even after the exit, [has] as good and favourable relationship with Britain as possible."---THE CZECH REPUBLIC RULES OUT SINGLE MARKET ACCESSCzech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek said that Britain‘s continued access to the single market after Brexit was completely out of the question."That is as if your wife says that she wants a divorce but would like to return to the family home at any given point in order to take what she wants," he said.Zaoralek warned that Britain would lose wealth and influence as a result of its decision to leave.---THE NETHERLANDS WORRIES FOR ITS OWN"For many people and businesses in the Netherlands, this starts a period of uncertainty," Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said.The Netherlands exported 15 billion euros (16.13 billion dollars) worth of goods to Britain in 2015 and 100,000 Dutch citizens live there. "They want clarity as soon as possible about their future and of course the government wants this too," he said.---AND ACROSS THE POND, WASHINGTON REMINDS THAT TRUMP WAS A BREXITEER"We respect the views of the British electorate," spokesman Sean Spicer says. "We want Britain to remain a strong leader in Europe and Britain and Europe to remain leaders in the world."Spicer pointed to US President Donald Trump‘s remarks in favour of the push for Britain to leave the EU, calling him "a leader in the effort to call for Brexit."