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Dutch leader defends EU charter rejection

SALZBURG, Austria, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende says nations other than his and France likely would reject the European Union charter if given a chance.

He cited Britain, Poland and Denmark as nations he thinks might turn down the EU constitution in a referendum. The Netherlands and France voted "no" last year but he shrugged off responsibility for the union's constitutional deadlock, the EU Observer said.

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Balkenende made his remarks at a high-profile conference on European identity, staged by the Austrian EU presidency in a bid to revive the debate on the constitution.

His remarks were aimed at critics who hold France and the Netherlands responsible for holding up further ratification of the EU charter, which has so far been ratified by 13 member states.

Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot earlier this month declared the constitution "dead," a remark Balkenende declined to repeat, but said it was "unrealistic that the constitution will be put to voters a second time."

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