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Barack Obama agrees to talks with Germany to explain spying on allies Barack Obama agrees to talks with Germany to explain spying on allies
(about 2 hours later)
Barack Obama has agreed to high-level talks of US and German security officials to allay the concerns of the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, about reported US spying on European allies. Barack Obama has conceded to high-level talks between US and German security officials after the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, demanded a detailed explanation about revelations of widespread American spying on European allies.
The European Union has demanded the United States explain a report in a German magazine that Washington was spying on its European allies, saying such surveillance was shocking if true. Obama agreed to the talks during a telephone call between the two leaders on Wednesday, in an attempt to allay the concerns of the German government.
A White House statement said Obama and Merkel had spoken by phone and agreed to the meetings. The two leaders held face-to-face talks in Berlin two weeks ago. Germany was furious at the revelations of US surveillance on European officials in Der Spiegel. In an interview earlier this week, Merkel said it was "not on". The European Union described the disclosures as "shocking".
A White House statement, released late on Wednesday, said Obama and Merkel had spoken by phone and agreed to the meetings. The two leaders held face-to-face talks in Berlin two weeks ago.
"The president assured the chancellor that the United States takes seriously the concerns of our European allies and partners," the White House said, noting US and EU officials would discuss intelligence and privacy issues as early as 8 July.
The leaders agreed to the high-level meeting of security officials in the coming days to discuss the issue in greater detail.		"The president assured the chancellor that the United States takes seriously the concerns of our European allies and partners," the White House said, noting US and EU officials would discuss intelligence and privacy issues as early as 8 July.
The leaders agreed to the high-level meeting of security officials in the coming days to discuss the issue in greater detail.
The reports came to light after the former US spy agency contractor Edward Snowden leaked details of surveillance activities by Washington. He is in limbo in a transit area of Moscow's airport as the United States pressures Moscow to send him to the US.The reports came to light after the former US spy agency contractor Edward Snowden leaked details of surveillance activities by Washington. He is in limbo in a transit area of Moscow's airport as the United States pressures Moscow to send him to the US.
Earlier this week, Merkel expressed anger at the US spying. "If these reports are confirmed in the course of our investigations, we will be looking at an extremely serious incident," she said, in an interview with the Guardian and five other European newspapers.
"Using bugs to listen in on friends in our embassies and EU representations is not on. The cold war is over. There is no doubt whatsoever that the fight against terrorism is essential, and it needs to harness intelligence about what happens online, but nor is there any doubt that things have to be kept proportionate. That is what guides Germany in talks with our partners."
On Monday, at a news conference in Tanzania, Obama promised to supply all the information requested by European allies about the spying allegations, which he said Washington was still evaluating.On Monday, at a news conference in Tanzania, Obama promised to supply all the information requested by European allies about the spying allegations, which he said Washington was still evaluating.
"Every intelligence service, not just ours, but every European intelligence service, every Asian intelligence service, wherever there's an intelligence service, here's one thing they're going to be doing: they're going to be trying to understand the world better and what's going on in world capitals around the world from sources that aren't available through the New York Times or NBC News," Obama said."Every intelligence service, not just ours, but every European intelligence service, every Asian intelligence service, wherever there's an intelligence service, here's one thing they're going to be doing: they're going to be trying to understand the world better and what's going on in world capitals around the world from sources that aren't available through the New York Times or NBC News," Obama said.
Kate Connolly in Berlin and Reuters in Washington contributed to this report
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