White House Cites ‘Lack Of Progress’ WIth Russia In Postponing Putin Meeting

[ProSense]

White House Cites ‘Lack Of Progress’ WIth Russia In Postponing Putin Meeting

White House press secretary Jay Carney issued a statement (posted below) Wednesday to offer an additional explanation for President Barack Obama's decision to "postpone" his planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin next month in Moscow.

Carney cited a "lack of progress on issues such as missile defense and arms control, trade and commercial relations, global security issues, and human rights and civil society," as well as Putin's decision to offer asylum to National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden as reasons for the change of plans.

Following a careful review begun in July, we have reached the conclusion that there is not enough recent progress in our bilateral agenda with Russia to hold a U.S.-Russia Summit in early September. We value the achievements made with Russia in the President’s first term, including the New START Treaty, and cooperation on Afghanistan, Iran, and North Korea. However, given our lack of progress on issues such as missile defense and arms control, trade and commercial relations, global security issues, and human rights and civil society in the last twelve months, we have informed the Russian Government that we believe it would be more constructive to postpone the summit until we have more results from our shared agenda. Russia’s disappointing decision to grant Edward Snowden temporary asylum was also a factor that we considered in assessing the current state of our bilateral relationship. Our cooperation on these issues remains a priority for the United States, so on Friday, August 9, Secretaries Hagel and Kerry will meet with their Russian counterparts in a 2+2 format in Washington to discuss how we can best make progress moving forward on the full range of issues in our bilateral relationship.

The President still looks forward to traveling to St. Petersburg on September 5-6 to attend the G-20 Summit.

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/white-house-cites-lack-of-progress-with-russia

NYT editorial: What’s the Point of a Summit?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023419234

[ProSense]

1. Blumenthal: Let's re-evaluate Russia

Blumenthal: Let's re-evaluate Russia

Ken Dixon

HARTFORD -- Edward Snowden, the controversial former security contractor who won sanctuary in Russia after leaking intelligence secrets, is a lawbreaker who should be prosecuted, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal charged on Monday.

He also called for a major re-evaluation of U.S.-Russian relations and recommended that President Barack Obama cancel a scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin set for next month in Moscow.

Blumenthal, D-Conn., stopped short of calling for a boycott of the Winter Olympics.

Speaking in the state Capitol complex on proposals to make the nation's secret intelligence court more transparent, Blumenthal said it's "an outrage" that Russia granted Snowden asylum.

- more -

http://www.ctpost.com/default/article/Blumenthal-Let-s-re-evaluate-Russia-4707618.php