UK Foreign Minister Plays Down Fears Of Acrimonious European Union Divorce

London: Foreign minister Boris Johnson dismissed fears on Thursday that Britain was heading for an acrimonious divorce with the European Union, instead portraying Brexit as the opportunity for a new relationship.

"I think it is so important to recast this whole conversation and ... to stop thinking of it as this acrimonious divorce. It's not going to be like that, it's going to be the development of a new European partnership between Britain and the EU," he told a parliamentary committee.

He added: "I think there will be a deal ... If it can't be done in two years then there are mechanisms for extending the period of discussion. I don't think that will be necessary, I think we can do it."

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