BRUSSELS - The European Commission said Wednesday it is checking gifts and gadgets which host Russia gave to delegations at last month's G20 summit to see if they pose a security risk.
With daily revelations stoking concerns over the extent of covert surveillance by friend and foe alike, the latest reports suggest that Russia hoped to trick G20 delegates into using devices which could feed back sensitive information.
EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding said Tuesday that "friends and partners do not spy on each other" and warned that Washington must restore trust if negotiations towards a transatlantic free trade deal are to bear fruit.
In turn, James Clapper, head of US intelligence, said a "basic tenet" of spy agencies is to try to learn the intentions of foreign leaders.
So far, Russia has not been involved directly but Moscow, as well as Beijing, has in the past been accused of extensive espionage on the West."
Thanks but no thanks are perhaps the acceptable diplomatic standard declination of gifts in the foreseeable future given this 'mistrust' atmosphere!
Lessons for me are:
1. "who is friend and who is foe?" is really unclear in the international spying arena really!;
2. as the USA head of intelligence said, and rightly so, most intelligence services just want to know the 'thinking of the head of the foreign governments'. Fairly legitimate even if they are just friends, at least on the surface. We just want to be sure that's all! :-);
3. for the EU to check and double-chcek the gifts by Russia is really not surprising given the bad track records, bad old baggage some may say, it had for spying on others. I still remembered reading the hundreds of 'hidden microphones and listening devices' in the old demolished USA ambassy in China or vice versa. So, listening to each other is really quite normal though it must be pointed out that it occurs with nations that are not totally friendly. Unless that of USA and Germany. Two obviously very friendly nations. I wondered how it come to this where the US has to listen in to the Dr Merkel's phone calls!
Anywhere, just to amuze myself tonight given that there is really not many news worthy headline to comment on.
With daily revelations stoking concerns over the extent of covert surveillance by friend and foe alike, the latest reports suggest that Russia hoped to trick G20 delegates into using devices which could feed back sensitive information.
EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding said Tuesday that "friends and partners do not spy on each other" and warned that Washington must restore trust if negotiations towards a transatlantic free trade deal are to bear fruit.
In turn, James Clapper, head of US intelligence, said a "basic tenet" of spy agencies is to try to learn the intentions of foreign leaders.
So far, Russia has not been involved directly but Moscow, as well as Beijing, has in the past been accused of extensive espionage on the West."
Thanks but no thanks are perhaps the acceptable diplomatic standard declination of gifts in the foreseeable future given this 'mistrust' atmosphere!
Lessons for me are:
1. "who is friend and who is foe?" is really unclear in the international spying arena really!;
2. as the USA head of intelligence said, and rightly so, most intelligence services just want to know the 'thinking of the head of the foreign governments'. Fairly legitimate even if they are just friends, at least on the surface. We just want to be sure that's all! :-);
3. for the EU to check and double-chcek the gifts by Russia is really not surprising given the bad track records, bad old baggage some may say, it had for spying on others. I still remembered reading the hundreds of 'hidden microphones and listening devices' in the old demolished USA ambassy in China or vice versa. So, listening to each other is really quite normal though it must be pointed out that it occurs with nations that are not totally friendly. Unless that of USA and Germany. Two obviously very friendly nations. I wondered how it come to this where the US has to listen in to the Dr Merkel's phone calls!
Anywhere, just to amuze myself tonight given that there is really not many news worthy headline to comment on.
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