Merkel, Hollande play down NSA scandal

BERLIN 

French President Francois Hollande expressed “full confidence” in German authorities on Tuesday as they investigate the claims that German intelligence had helped U.S.’s NSA spy on France.

Speaking at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Hollande said:

“I have full confidence in the investigations carried out by relevant commissions and believe that they will bring the facts to light."

“At a time of big threats there is a wonderful cooperation in the field of intelligence and that is also based on trust.”

Merkel’s coalition government is under growing pressure due to a secret cooperation between German intelligence BND and its U.S. counterpart NSA.

Der Spiegel reported on April 24 the cooperation between the BND and NSA aimed at spying on telephone and internet communication in conflict regions from the Bad Aibling station in southern Germany.

But the NSA had also monitored European politicians and companies, the daily reported.

Senior officials from the French presidency, the Foreign Ministry and from the European Commission were also reportedly the targets of surveillance, despite national laws banning such practices.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel told journalists that they have discussed with Hollande the recent claims on the BND, but did not elaborate. 

She defended cooperation with the NSA, citing a growing terrorism threat.

“We must always bear in mind: We need intelligence services and we need close cooperation among these services,” she said.

German opposition parties are demanding from the government to submit to the parliament’s investigation committee the full list of the telephone numbers, e-mail accounts and IP addresses monitored by the BND in cooperation with the NSA.

But Merkel has so far resisted that demand and argued that Berlin should first consult with Washington.