TOP RUSSIAN MP SLAMS US THREATS ON MOSCOW, BEIJING AS 'ILL-CONSIDERED'
Former US National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/06/26/310893/us-threats-on-russia-china-dismissed/
Wed Jun 26, 2013 7:58AM GMT
Russia's President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, emphasized on Tuesday
that his country has no extradition agreement with the US, calling
Washington's rhetoric against Moscow as "ravings and rubbish."
A senior Russian lawmaker has dismissed threatening US demands on
China and Russia to expel NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, saying
it would only bring Beijing and Moscow closer together.
"The threats from the United States towards Russia and China over the
Snowden case will not give results, but will just strengthen closer
ties between Moscow and Beijing," said Foreign Affairs Committee
Chairman of the lower parliamentary house Alexei Pushkov, in a tweet
message on Wednesday cited in an AFP report.
Pushkov further described recent American harsh rhetoric against
its rival powers regarding the former spy agency employee as
"ill-considered pressure," warning that such efforts would only
damage Washington's relations with Moscow and Beijing at a time the
formerly hostile rivals are seeking common ground on a range of issues,
including the Syrian crisis.
The lawmaker's statement came following angry reactions by other top
Russian officials to what has widely been regarded as US threats for
arrest and turnover of Snowden.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier complained about
what he described as "threats" by US officials over the case of NSA
whistleblower.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, emphasized on Tuesday
that his country has no extradition agreement with the US, calling
Washington's rhetoric against Moscow as "ravings and rubbish."
He also ended speculation over Snowden's whereabouts by confirming
that he was still in the transit zone of Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport
and free to depart towards any destination he so chooses.
This is while Washington claims that there was a "clear legal basis"
to expel Snowden.
Moreover, White House spokesman Jay Carney has lashed out at Beijing,
stressing that China's failure to "honor extradition obligations"
had dealt a "serious setback" to what he described as US efforts to
build trust with China's new President Xi Jinping.
China's official news agency, meanwhile, has slammed the US government
as the world's "biggest villain" following the latest revelations
on Washington's cyber espionage against Chinese companies and
institutions.
"These, along with previous allegations, are clearly troubling signs.
They demonstrate that the United States, which has long been trying
to play innocent as a victim of cyber attacks, has turned out to be
the biggest villain in our age," said a commentary published in the
Xinhua news agency on Sunday.
Snowden arrived in Moscow from Hong Kong, where authorities said the
US government request to arrest him did not fully comply with the
territory's legal requirements.
MFB/MFB
Former US National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/06/26/310893/us-threats-on-russia-china-dismissed/
Wed Jun 26, 2013 7:58AM GMT
Russia's President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, emphasized on Tuesday
that his country has no extradition agreement with the US, calling
Washington's rhetoric against Moscow as "ravings and rubbish."
A senior Russian lawmaker has dismissed threatening US demands on
China and Russia to expel NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, saying
it would only bring Beijing and Moscow closer together.
"The threats from the United States towards Russia and China over the
Snowden case will not give results, but will just strengthen closer
ties between Moscow and Beijing," said Foreign Affairs Committee
Chairman of the lower parliamentary house Alexei Pushkov, in a tweet
message on Wednesday cited in an AFP report.
Pushkov further described recent American harsh rhetoric against
its rival powers regarding the former spy agency employee as
"ill-considered pressure," warning that such efforts would only
damage Washington's relations with Moscow and Beijing at a time the
formerly hostile rivals are seeking common ground on a range of issues,
including the Syrian crisis.
The lawmaker's statement came following angry reactions by other top
Russian officials to what has widely been regarded as US threats for
arrest and turnover of Snowden.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier complained about
what he described as "threats" by US officials over the case of NSA
whistleblower.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, emphasized on Tuesday
that his country has no extradition agreement with the US, calling
Washington's rhetoric against Moscow as "ravings and rubbish."
He also ended speculation over Snowden's whereabouts by confirming
that he was still in the transit zone of Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport
and free to depart towards any destination he so chooses.
This is while Washington claims that there was a "clear legal basis"
to expel Snowden.
Moreover, White House spokesman Jay Carney has lashed out at Beijing,
stressing that China's failure to "honor extradition obligations"
had dealt a "serious setback" to what he described as US efforts to
build trust with China's new President Xi Jinping.
China's official news agency, meanwhile, has slammed the US government
as the world's "biggest villain" following the latest revelations
on Washington's cyber espionage against Chinese companies and
institutions.
"These, along with previous allegations, are clearly troubling signs.
They demonstrate that the United States, which has long been trying
to play innocent as a victim of cyber attacks, has turned out to be
the biggest villain in our age," said a commentary published in the
Xinhua news agency on Sunday.
Snowden arrived in Moscow from Hong Kong, where authorities said the
US government request to arrest him did not fully comply with the
territory's legal requirements.
MFB/MFB