Obama speaks with Putin on Snowden, but no sign of movement

[alp227]

Source: Reuters

President Barack Obama raised U.S. concerns directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday 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 spokesman Jay Carney said earlier would largely be about Snowden, who is wanted in the United States for disclosing secret surveillance programs. Carney had accused Russia of providing Snowden a "propaganda platform" to air his complaints about the United States.

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.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/13/us-usa-security-snowden-obama-idUSBRE96B0RE20130713

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1. I'd feel better if O spoke with Putin about the Russian arms shipments to Assad

Can we just try to cool it down in Syria?

[David__77]

4. And Putin can speak to Obama about the U.S. arms shipments to al Qaeda.

Yes, indeed, let's cool it down.

[Cha]

2. Mahalo alp.. good to

know.

[Kolesar]

3. Putin should tell him if Glennzilla releases any more intel data, Edward is going to America

That means to admit him and hold him for a decade or so.