Qa'dah 24, 1435, Sep 19, 2014, SPA -- Top EU and NATO officials breathed a sigh of relief Friday at the outcome of Scotland's referendum on independence, in which a majority voted against separating from the rest of Britain, dpa reported.. "I welcome the decision of the Scottish people to maintain the unity of the United Kingdom," said European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. "This outcome is good for the united, open and stronger Europe that the commission stands for." Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he fully respected the choice of the Scottish people, and welcomed that Britain would remain united. "I am confident that the United Kingdom will continue to play a leading role to keep our alliance strong," he said in a statement.
