Post date: Jul 13, 2013 11:45:3 AM
Obama and Putin discuss Snowden in 'phone call but make no headway on US demands for repatriation.
WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (JULY 12, 2013) (WHITE HOUSE) - President Barack Obama raised U.S. concerns directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday (July 12) over Moscow's handling of former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden, but there was no sign of a breakthrough on Washington's demand that Russia expel him.
Obama and Putin spoke by phone in a discussion that White House spokesmanJay Carney said earlier would largely be about Snowden, who is wanted in theUnited States for disclosing secret surveillance programs.A White House statement about the Obama-Putin call offered no indication that Putin was prepared to send Snowden back to the United States.
"The two leaders noted the importance of U.S.-Russian bilateral relations and discussed a range of security and bilateral issues, including the status of Mr.Edward Snowden and cooperation on counter-terrorism in the lead-up to the Sochi Winter Olympics," the statement said. The Sochi Olympics are in 2014.
The high-level contact came during intense diplomatic wrangling over Snowden, who has been holed up in a transit area at a Moscow airport since arriving from Hong Kong on June 23. He is seeking asylum in either Russia or in one of three countries in Latin American that have offered to take him: Venezuela, Nicaraguaand Bolivia.
Snowden, 30, is wanted on espionage charges, accused of taking records about secret U.S. surveillance of internet and phone traffic and releasing them to the news media. The disclosures have raised Americans' concerns about domestic spying and strained relations with some U.S. allies.
Putin has so far refused all U.S. entreaties to return Snowden to the United States.