BERLIN: German spy chiefs will travel to the United States next week to demand answers following allegations that US intelligence has been tapping Chancellor Angela Merkel’s mobile phone, as a row over US snooping threatened to hurt transatlantic ties.
Documents leaked by former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden showing sweeping US surveillance on ordinary citizens’ Internet searches and telephone records have already sparked outrage worldwide.
But the furor has intensified after allegations that world leaders including the presidents of Brazil and Mexico have been among spying targets.
This week, the scandal widened to Europe, with allegations that Merkel’s phone was being tapped, prompting Berlin to summon the US ambassador — a highly unusual move between the close allies.
“High-ranking government representatives will go rapidly to the United States in order to push forward discussions with the White House and the NSA (National Security Agency) on the allegations raised recently,” Georg Streiter, the chancellor’s deputy spokesman, said Friday.
German media quoting sources close to the intelligence service reported Saturday that the delegation will include top officials from the German secret service.
Merkel telephoned US President Barack Obama on Wednesday saying that such spying would be a “breach of trust” between international partners.
“Spying between friends, that’s just not done,” Merkel said, as she was heading into a EU summit earlier this week.
The spying row has prompted European leaders to demand a new deal with Washington on intelligence gathering that would maintain an essential alliance while keeping the fight against terrorism on track.
The 28 leaders also warn that while the bloc and the United States share a “close relationship,” it must “be based on respect and trust.”
A lack of trust “could prejudice the necessary cooperation in the field of intelligence gathering,” they said in a statement at the close of the summit.
Germany and Brazil are also working on a UN General Assembly resolution to highlight international anger at US data snooping in other countries, diplomats said Friday.
The resolution would not mention the United States but would call for extending the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to Internet activities.
“The aim is to send a message to those who abuse the system,” said a UN diplomat involved in the talks.
The Bavarian daily Suddeutsche Zeitung suggested that France had an ambiguous role in international surveillance, having signed an accord with the “Five Eyes” grouping of Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the United States whose members share virtually all intelligence — and have pledged not to spy on one another.
But some warn that Snowden’s leaks went beyond hurting ties to hindering the fight against terrorism.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said the publication of the Snowden files “is frankly signaling to people who mean to do us harm how to evade and avoid” detection, he said, citing a massacre in a Kenyan mall in which at least 67 people died.
“It is going to make our world more dangerous,” Cameron said.
Michael Morrell, who served as deputy director and acting director of the CIA, told CBS television’s “60 Minutes” program that the former intelligence contractor’s disclosures have damaged efforts to track possible terror threats.
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German spy chiefs to head to US as snooping row widens
German spy chiefs to head to US as snooping row widens
Congo says it would seek other partners if US minerals framework fails
CAPE TOWN: The Democratic Republic of Congo will look for other partners if its minerals cooperation framework with the US does not lead to concrete projects, the country’s mines minister said.
“Everything we have done with America is a framework under which we will discuss questions of mutual interest. That is all it is,” Louis Watum Kabamba said on the sidelines of the Indaba mining conference in Cape Town.
“It may become a good major project. It may also become another project that does not interest them. We will continue because there are many other partners to discuss with.”
Congo, home to some of the world’s largest reserves of cobalt, copper and lithium, in December signed a framework agreement with the US aimed at developing a supply chain for critical minerals used in data centers, defense and electric vehicles.
Washington wants access to a spectrum of natural resources as it scrambles to counter China’s dominance.
But the minister said the arrangement remained preliminary.
“For those who think we are going to sell everything for nothing to America, I must be very clear: we have sold nothing. And we will sell nothing for nothing,” he added.
Watum Kabamba said Congo’s minerals endowment is exploited at less than 10 percent today. The central African country hosts major mining companies including Western-listed Glencore and Ivanhoe Mines, as well as China’s CMOC Group and Zijin Mining.
“The rivalry between China and the United States — we are not interested in it. We must play our own game as the DRC,” he said. “We have our own problems. We must feed people. We must invest in human capital for our youth.”
“Everything we have done with America is a framework under which we will discuss questions of mutual interest. That is all it is,” Louis Watum Kabamba said on the sidelines of the Indaba mining conference in Cape Town.
“It may become a good major project. It may also become another project that does not interest them. We will continue because there are many other partners to discuss with.”
Congo, home to some of the world’s largest reserves of cobalt, copper and lithium, in December signed a framework agreement with the US aimed at developing a supply chain for critical minerals used in data centers, defense and electric vehicles.
Washington wants access to a spectrum of natural resources as it scrambles to counter China’s dominance.
But the minister said the arrangement remained preliminary.
“For those who think we are going to sell everything for nothing to America, I must be very clear: we have sold nothing. And we will sell nothing for nothing,” he added.
Watum Kabamba said Congo’s minerals endowment is exploited at less than 10 percent today. The central African country hosts major mining companies including Western-listed Glencore and Ivanhoe Mines, as well as China’s CMOC Group and Zijin Mining.
“The rivalry between China and the United States — we are not interested in it. We must play our own game as the DRC,” he said. “We have our own problems. We must feed people. We must invest in human capital for our youth.”
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