Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

Thursday 14 december 2017 WORLD NEWS
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UK lawmakers assert final say on Brexit deal, challenge govt

By RAF CASERT between the two, after his
JILL LAWLESS U.K. counterpart insisted it
Associated Press was merely a “statement of
BRUSSELS (AP) — British law- intent.”
makers upended Prime Barnier told legislators at
Minister Theresa May’s Brex- the European Parliament
it plans Wednesday by giv- that the negotiations so
ing Parliament the final say far have been “extremely
on any exit agreement the complex and extraordi-
government reaches with nary” but insisted that he
the European Union. had made no concessions
The House of Commons to the British side.
voted 309-305 to insert U.K. negotiator David Davis
Parliament in the already suggested over the week-
strained Brexit process, end that the deal was less
dealing a blow to May’s al- than cast in stone. The ini-
ready fragile authority. tial deal involved the main-
Several lawmakers from the tenance of a transparent
prime minister’s governing border between EU mem-
Conservative Party sided ber Ireland and the U.K.’s
with the opposition to insist MPs return their results in the House of Commons after a vote on a motion insisting a deal with the Northern Ireland, as well as
that any withdrawal deal EU require an Act of Parliament before it can take effect, in London, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017. citizens’ rights.
British lawmakers have delivered a defeat to Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit plans by giving
with the EU requires an Act Parliament the final say on any exit agreement with the European Union. The House of Commons But Barnier said “progress
of Parliament to take effect voted 309-305 on Wednesday to inserting Parliament in the Brexit process and deal another blow has been noted and re-
— essentially giving law- to May’s already fragile authority. (PA via AP) corded and is going to
makers a veto on Brexit. ment on its Brexit legislation. leaves the bloc in March reinforce perceptions in the have to be translated into
May had promised law- It came as an amendment 2019. Without it, Britain bloc that May lacks author- a legally binding withdraw-
makers a “meaningful to the EU Withdrawal Bill, could face a legal black ity. al agreement” on
vote” on the departure the government’s flagship hole the day after Brexit. Earlier Wednesday, Euro- The European Parliament’s
agreement, but political piece of Brexit legislation. If the amendment survives pean Union chief Brexit chief Brexit official, Guy
opponents said her assur- The bill itself, which still is a final vote on the with- negotiator Michel Barnier Verhofstadt, said Davis was
ance was not enough of a moving through Parlia- drawal bill, it would not said there will be “no turn- already backtracking af-
guarantee. ment, would convert some have a direct impact on ing back” for Britain on ter his statement Sunday,
This vote was the govern- 12,000 EU laws into British Britain’s negotiations with commitments made dur- which riled officials in Brus-
ment’s first defeat in Parlia- statute on the day the U.K. the EU. However, it could ing an initial divorce deal sels.

New US Embassy in UK: No perimeter fence, benches for public

By GREGORY KATZ Donald Trump will come to dad, Iraq cost more.
Associated Press London for its official dedi- Moser, who supervises over-
LONDON (AP) — The most cation, which may come seas building construction
surprising aspect of the weeks or longer after the for the State Department,
pricey new U.S. Embassy in embassy’s first day of busi- said the money for the site
London is what isn’t there: ness. and its development was
a perimeter fence. “We are looking forward to generated by selling other
There is no imposing secu- welcoming the president U.S. government properties
rity barrier to protect the when he comes over here,” in Britain.
highly visible embassy in a Johnson told reporters dur- “It was built with no taxpay-
city that has this year been ing an advance look at the er dollars,” he said.
targeted repeatedly by ex- new facility in the Nine Elms The 12-story building offers
tremists. neighborhood. “I think he a commanding view of
Instead there are some will be very impressed with A general view of the exterior of the new United States embassy the Thames and its design
building during a press preview near the River Thames in London,
public gardens with bench- this building and the peo- Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017. The new embassy which is being emphasizes sustainability,
es on the edge of the prop- ple who occupy it.” funded by the sale of existing property in London is expected to including the use of water
erty, then a pond to keep He said the president’s cost around 1 billion US dollars. runoff to form a waterfall.
unauthorized people from schedule is difficult and it’s (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool) A number of interior gar-
approaching the new not clear when he will visit. his remarks were at times venor Square embassy, dens emphasize American
building south of the River Trump has accepted an drowned out by feedback which opened in 1960, and themes — one evokes the
Thames. Officials are quick invitation for a state visit to from a faulty microphone. update it with modern se- Grand Canyon, another is
to emphasize the pond is be hosted by Queen Eliza- The new building, which re- curity features. designed to look like Pacific
not a moat, it does not en- beth II, but no date has places the former U.S. Em- The new building, with its forests — and the housing
circle the entire building. been set. bassy on Grosvenor Square distinctive cube shape, is for U.S. Marines includes a
U.S. Ambassador Robert British lawmakers and oth- in the heart of London, is nearly twice as large as the landscaped outdoor seat-
“Woody” Johnson said ers have protested hosting playing a central role in the Grosvenor Square facility. ing area.
Wednesday the $1 billion Trump for a number of rea- rejuvenation of the Nine It is the single most expen- Architect James Timber-
(1.34 billion-pound) build- sons, and some lawmakers Elms neighborhood, which sive embassy building ever lake says the new building
ing that opens to the pub- have called for him to be has seen a spurt in housing built by the United States, exceeds security require-
lic on Jan. 16 is designed banned from the U.K. and office development. Ambassador William Moser ments without making the
to be both welcoming and The ambassador touted Officials say it would have said, even though U.S. dip- embassy look forbidding.
secure. the new embassy as a been prohibitively expen- lomatic compounds in Ka- “It does so discretely rather
He said he hopes President technological marvel, but sive to renovate the Gros- bul, Afghanistan and Bagh- than overtly,” he said.q