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US, RUSSIA RELATIONS COULD BE HEADED FOR NEW LOW IF OBAMA CANCELS MOSCOW TALKS WITH PUTIN
13:15 19.07.13
The White House is considering canceling a fall summit between
President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow,
a move that would further aggravate the already tense relationship
between the two leaders.
The White House is dangling that option over the Russians as Moscow
considers a temporary asylum petition from Edward Snowden, the American
accused of leaking information about classified U.S.
intelligence programs. But officials have privately signaled that
scrapping the bilateral talks would also be retaliation for other
areas of disagreement with Russia, including its continued support
for Syrian President Bashar Assad's attacks against civilians.
Regardless of what happens with Snowden, the White House says Obama
will still attend an international summit in St. Petersburg, Russia.
But officials have gone out of their way in recent days to avoid
publicly committing to the meetings in Moscow.
"The president intends to travel to Russia for the G20 Summit," White
House spokesman Jay Carney said. "And I have no further announcements
to make beyond what we've said in the past about the president's
travel to Russia in the fall."
By simply considering cancellation of the trip, the Obama
administration is indicating its concern the Kremlin will allow Snowden
to take refuge in Russia. The White House has called on Russia to
return the 30-year-old former government contractor to the U.S.
where he is facing espionage charges.
Snowden, in a temporary asylum request submitted by his lawyer Tuesday,
claimed he faces persecution from the U.S. government and could face
torture or death.
Armenian News - Tert.am
13:15 19.07.13
The White House is considering canceling a fall summit between
President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow,
a move that would further aggravate the already tense relationship
between the two leaders.
The White House is dangling that option over the Russians as Moscow
considers a temporary asylum petition from Edward Snowden, the American
accused of leaking information about classified U.S.
intelligence programs. But officials have privately signaled that
scrapping the bilateral talks would also be retaliation for other
areas of disagreement with Russia, including its continued support
for Syrian President Bashar Assad's attacks against civilians.
Regardless of what happens with Snowden, the White House says Obama
will still attend an international summit in St. Petersburg, Russia.
But officials have gone out of their way in recent days to avoid
publicly committing to the meetings in Moscow.
"The president intends to travel to Russia for the G20 Summit," White
House spokesman Jay Carney said. "And I have no further announcements
to make beyond what we've said in the past about the president's
travel to Russia in the fall."
By simply considering cancellation of the trip, the Obama
administration is indicating its concern the Kremlin will allow Snowden
to take refuge in Russia. The White House has called on Russia to
return the 30-year-old former government contractor to the U.S.
where he is facing espionage charges.
Snowden, in a temporary asylum request submitted by his lawyer Tuesday,
claimed he faces persecution from the U.S. government and could face
torture or death.
Armenian News - Tert.am