Brazil snubs Obama by refusing White House state-dinner honor

In an unprecedented snub to President Obama, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Tuesday canceled her official state visit to the White House scheduled for next month, angered by revelations of U.S. spying on her and on major Brazilian state institutions.

The White House released a statement saying that both presidents “have agreed to postpone” Ms. Rousseff’s visit, scheduled for Oct. 23. But it is the Brazilian leader who is incensed about the National Security Agency’s surveillance of her and her top aides.

The two presidents spoke by phone for 20 minutes Monday night, but Mr. Obama’s answers to Ms. Rousseff about the spying were not enough to prevent her from canceling the trip.

A Brazilian newspaper, O Globo, said Mr. Obama failed in an attempt to “salvage” the state visit. The White House portrayed it as a mutual decision.

“The president has said that he understands and regrets the concerns disclosures of alleged U.S. intelligence activities have generated in Brazil and made clear that he is committed to working together with President Rousseff and her government in diplomatic channels to move beyond this issue as a source of tension in our bilateral relationship,” the White House said.

Mr. Obama tried to smooth things over with Ms. Rousseff two weeks ago at the G-20 summit in Russia. But she has demanded an explanation for the NSA spying, which was revealed by journalist Glenn Greenwald with documents supplied by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/sep/17/brazil-snubs-obama-refuses-wh-state-dinner/#ixzz2fBNXEFuF
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fshnski wrote:In an unprecedented snub to President Obama, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Tuesday canceled her official state visit to the White House scheduled for next month, angered by revelations of U.S. spying on her and on major Brazilian state institutions.

The White House released a statement saying that both presidents “have agreed to postpone” Ms. Rousseff’s visit, scheduled for Oct. 23. But it is the Brazilian leader who is incensed about the National Security Agency’s surveillance of her and her top aides.

The two presidents spoke by phone for 20 minutes Monday night, but Mr. Obama’s answers to Ms. Rousseff about the spying were not enough to prevent her from canceling the trip.

A Brazilian newspaper, O Globo, said Mr. Obama failed in an attempt to “salvage” the state visit. The White House portrayed it as a mutual decision.

“The president has said that he understands and regrets the concerns disclosures of alleged U.S. intelligence activities have generated in Brazil and made clear that he is committed to working together with President Rousseff and her government in diplomatic channels to move beyond this issue as a source of tension in our bilateral relationship,” the White House said.

Mr. Obama tried to smooth things over with Ms. Rousseff two weeks ago at the G-20 summit in Russia. But she has demanded an explanation for the NSA spying, which was revealed by journalist Glenn Greenwald with documents supplied by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.
Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/sep/17/brazil-snubs-obama-refuses-wh-state-dinner/#ixzz2fBNXEFuF
Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter

 
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