German lawmaker: Snowden ready to testify about U.S. spying on MerkelNovember 1, 2013 - 10:23 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Fugitive U.S. intelligence leaker Edward Snowden is ready to testify about the United States spying on German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a German lawmaker said Thursday, October 31 after a meeting in Moscow with the former U.S. National Security Agency employee, according to RIA Novosti. Hans-Christian Ströbele, a representative of the German Green party in the Bundestag, told broadcaster ARD that Snowden expressed readiness to help an investigation in the espionage allegation. Ströbele said he and Snowden had discussed the issue in detail, and Snowden clearly conveyed that “he knew a lot.” A recent report in Germany’s Der Spiegel claimed that the NSA had tapped Merkel’s mobile phone for more than 10 years. Germany’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office last week announced that it might summon Snowden as a witness. According to leaked U.S. government files cited by the Der Spiegel report, a listening station based in the U.S. Embassy in Berlin was responsible for monitoring Merkel’s communications. Der Spiegel said Merkel called U.S. President Barack Obama to seek clarification as soon as she heard about the allegation. According to the report, the U.S. leader apologized to Merkel but said he did not know about the spying. Related links: 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 | International cybercrime ringleaders arrested in Armenia, Ukraine Europol, Europe's crime agency, has arrested four ringleaders of several cybercrime networks that used botnets. Armenia skips CSTO Defense Ministers meeting A meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization countries began in Almaty. 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. |