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NATO's five former chiefs warn Brexit to enfeeble NATO

LONDON, May 10. /TASS/. Britain's withdrawal from the EU will weaken NATO and will play into the hands of the West's foes, five former Secretaries-General of the North-Atlantic pact Lord Carrington, Javier Solana, Lord Robertson, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, and Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in a letter released by the office of the British Prime Minister, SkyNews said.

"At a time of such global instability, and when NATO is trying to reinforce its role in Eastern Europe, it would be very troubling if the UK ended its membership of the European Union," the former chiefs of the bloc said.

"While the decision is one for the British people, Brexit would undoubtedly lead to a loss of British influence, undermine NATO and give succour to the West's enemies just when we need to stand shoulder to shoulder across the Euro-Atlantic community against common threats, including on our doorsteps," the letter said without specifying who the West's enemies are and what common threats its authors might have in mind.

On June 23, Britons go to the polls to decide on their country's future presence in or withdrawal from the EU. A promise to hold it was one of the highlights of PM Cameron's election campaign.

Upon the results of the EU summit on February 18-19, Cameron made a deal with Brussels on special terms for UK membership, including a greater sovereignty to British parliament, protection of the Pound Sterling, and a toughening of migration laws through a long-term blocking of access to British social benefits for the workers from EU member-states.

Cameron believes these changes will motivate the British voters towards supporting Britain's continued membership of the EU but opinion polls shows British society remains divided into practically two different parts on the issue.

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