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

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

By Phil Stewart

(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.

"We would like to see Mr. Snowden return to the United States. I don't know technically what that requires, but we know they have the capability to do that."

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

[ProSense]

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