Hollande says bugging reports threaten U.S.-EU trade dealJuly 1, 2013 - 17:49 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - French President Francois Hollande has said allegations that the U.S. bugged European embassies could threaten a huge planned trade deal, BBC News reported. Negotiations over the EU-US pact, the biggest bilateral deal ever negotiated, are due to start on July 8. Hollande said there could be no negotiations without guarantees spying would stop "immediately". U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said earlier that activities to protect national security were "not unusual". German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said "bugging friends is unacceptable... we are no longer in the Cold War". He added that Germany wanted the deal to go ahead but "mutual trust is necessary in order to come to an agreement". The allegations of U.S. security services bugging EU missions and the embassies of friendly European countries - including the French, Italian and Greek embassies - come from documents apparently leaked by an ex-CIA analyst. Edward Snowden has been charged in the US with theft of government property, unauthorized communication of national defense information and willful communication of classified communications intelligence. He is believed to be at an airport in Moscow, and is seeking a destination safe from prosecution by the U.S. authorities. Green parties in France and Germany have called on their governments to offer Mr Snowden asylum. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Armenian, Iranian foreigh policy chief talk over the phone The Foreign Minister of Armenia once again expressed condolences to his counterpart on the death of the President of Iran. Armenia, U.S. customs authorities to boost assistance with new deal The government has approved an agreement with the U.S. government on mutual assistance between the customs authorities. Armenian government besieged by protesters Protesters led by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan poured into Yerevan’s Republic Square to try to surround the seat of Armenia’s government. Armenia, Russia agree on repairing railway destroyed in floods Yerevan and Moscow have agreed to repair a flood-stricken railway in northern Armenia. |