Merkel says U.S. ties must not be put at risk

[YahooNews]

Angela Merkel reaffirmed the importance of Germany's ties to the United States on Monday, making clear a domestic debate over granting asylum to former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden must not be allowed to harm relations. Merkel had stayed silent since a leading lawmaker from Germany's Greens party visited the fugitive U.S. intelligence worker in Russia last week and returned to Berlin with a message that Snowden would cooperate if guaranteed safe haven. But in an apparent attempt to nip the asylum debate in the bud, Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert made clear on Monday that the chancellor was not prepared to take any steps that might put the relationship with Washington at risk. "The chancellor believes she has an obligation to protect the data and privacy of German citizens from illegal monitoring and she is working to re-establish trust with the United States, and put in place clear rules for future cooperation," Seibert said.