The U.S. and UK will remain partners in all bilateral issues, despite the departure of UK from the European Union upon on a referendum on Thursday, Secretary of State John Kerry affirmed in an official statement released Friday. Kerry revealed that he spoke to British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond regarding Thursday's referendum in the United Kingdom, saying that the citizens of the U.K. have made their decision that will be of course respected. "I want to emphasize that although the U.K. will be leaving the European Union, the British are in no way departing from the principles and values that undergird the Transatlantic Partnership or from the important role the U.K. plays in promoting peace and stability in the world. The special relationship that has long existed between the United States and the U.K. endures our two countries remain strong and vigilant NATO Allies, permanent members of the UN Security Council, commercial partners, and close friends," the statement reads. "I also want to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to the European Union and the common agenda we share with Europe on such issues as Ukraine, nuclear nonproliferation, climate change, trade, and human rights," Kerry added.