Despite Snowden fracas, U.S. to hold high-level Russia talks Friday

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Despite Snowden fracas, U.S. to hold high-level Russia talks Friday

By Phil Stewart
WASHINGTON | Tue Aug 6, 2013 4:20pm EDT

(Reuters) - The United States will hold talks with Russia's defense and foreign ministers in Washington on Friday despite Moscow's decision to grant asylum to former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden, U.S. officials said on Tuesday.

The State Department, confirming a report by Reuters, said the talks would go ahead and that Snowden's case would be among the issues raised when Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel meet their Russian counterparts.

"We have raised Mr. Snowden with Russian officials many times in recent weeks. We expect to do so again," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters.

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The United States appears to be trying to avoid derailing ties with its former Cold War rival by proceeding with some high-level talks with Russia while still leaving Obama's participation in the summit in doubt.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/06/us-usa-security-snowden-russia-idUSBRE97510420130806

[bemildred]

1. Oh for a transcript of those talks.

[ehcross]

2. The U.S. will hold talks with Russia despite Moscow's decision to grant asylum to Edward Snowden.

It's about time the U.S. considered discussing Edward Snowden with Russia despite Russians having granted asylum to Snowden.
No relevant results are expected from that discussion. Russia will surely suggest that Snowden choose by himself where he intends to stay. Clearly the U.S. has no say in that decision.