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'Tensions
don't exist': WikiLeaks refutes media reports about 'Ecuadorean
disarray'
RT,
29
June, 2013
WikiLeaks
says there are no tensions between Julian Assange and Ecuadorean
government as it responded to media reports claiming Assange’s role
in Edward Snowden’s case "has raised hackles" among
Ecuadorean officials.
“The
story is spun to be about tensions that don't exist,” WikiLeaks
posted on its Twitter account in response to the article that
appeared in the Wall Street Journal on Friday. “Hacked/intercepted
emails in relation to an NSA spying story. Talk about missing the
obvious,” the tweet read.
The
Wall Street Journal leaked diplomatic correspondence, which they
claimed had been obtained by Spanish-language broadcaster Univision
Networks and “reviewed by them”.
“Diplomatic
correspondence that appears to shed light on the mixed signals from
Quito over the American fugitive’s fate,” the newspaper report
reads.
Partially
published emails show that Ecuadorean officials and diplomats
privately discussed the conflict around Snowden and more precisely
the role of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in this case.
“Mr.
Assange's role has raised hackles among Ecuadorean officials,” the
newspaper concluded, giving as proof some quotes from the emails of
Ecuadorian diplomats. It says there is “disarray within the
Ecuadorian government” that is “complicating the outcome” of
Snowden’s asylum bid.
According
to the correspondence, Ecuador's ambassador to the US, Nathalie Cely,
told presidential spokesman Fernando Alvarado that the WikiLeaks
founder has been overshadowing Quito's role in the Edward Snowden
case.
"I
suggest talking to Assange to better control the communications. From
outside, [Assange] appears to be running the show," the message
read.
At
the same time, in a message attributed to Assange sent to Ecuador's
foreign minister, Ricardo Patino, and other top officials, the
WikiLeaks founder reportedly apologized "if we have unwittingly
[caused] Ecuador discomfort in the Snowden matter." In the note,
Assange allegedly also offered Ecuadorean high-ranking officials
advice on how to manage the public relations side of the crisis.
"There
is a fog of war due to the rapid nature of events. If similar events
arise you can be assured that they do not originate in any lack of
respect or concern for Ecuador or its government," the note
read.
Assange,
according to the note, praised Ecuador’s stance, but suggested the
government hire an English-language spokesman.
"Someone
needs to speak in relation to Mr. Snowden's wishes and views. In some
cases, it is likely to be difficult for the Ecuadorean Ministry of
Foreign Affairs to take on this role, due to the need to display its
neutrality and formality in the matter," the note read.
The
disclosed correspondence has also revealed that Ecuadorean officials
apparently were aware of a controversial temporary travel document,
the so-called, “safe pass” that Fidel Narvaez, consul at the
embassy in London, issued for Snowden and that President Rafael
Correa said was “unauthorized”.
The
President said that even if such a document existed, "the person
who issued it will be totally without authority and [the document]
would have no validity."
Nevertheless,
the Univision Network claims to have established that the Ecuadorian
diplomat Narvaez issued the travel document at the President’s
request and forwarded it to Presidential legal adviser, Alexis Mera.
"Dear
Alexis, I am responding to your request," The WSJ cited the note
from an address bearing Narvaez's name. The letter also allegedly
included a copy of an Ecuadorian “safe pass” in Snowden’s name.
Another
email from the same account, dated Wednesday and addressed to the
legal adviser as well as to a presidential spokesman, reportedly
said: "I trust you received the requested document yesterday."
Univision
also claims that the notes evidence that Narvaez also spoke to
President Correa about what he called "unique circumstances"
of the asylum.
President
Rafael Correa responding to the leak by the newspapers has accused
the media of spying on Ecuadorean officials. He also stressed that
the corrupted media power is the worst weapon that mankind has
invented.
Ecuador's
Correa says Biden asked him to deny Edward Snowden asylum
29
June, 2013
US
vice-president Joe Biden has asked Ecuador to turn down an asylum
request from National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden, the
country's president said Saturday.
Rafael
Correa said he had a "friendly and very cordial"
conversation with Biden, and told the vice-president that Ecuador
hadn't sought to be put in the situation of deciding whether to
harbor an American fugitive. Correa said Ecuador can't consider the
asylum request until Snowden is on Ecuadorean soil.
"The
moment that he arrives, if he arrives, the first thing is we'll ask
the opinion of the United States, as we did in the Assange case with
England," Correa said. "But the decision is ours to make."
Julian
Assange, founder of the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks has been given
asylum in Ecuador's embassy in London.
White
House spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan confirmed that the two leaders
spoke by phone Friday and discussed Snowden, but wouldn't disclose
any details about the conversation. It's the highest-level
conversation between the US. and Ecuador that has been publicly
disclosed since Snowden began seeking asylum from Ecuador.
Correa,
in a weekly television address, praised Biden for being more
courteous than US senators who have threatened economic penalties if
Ecuador doesn't cooperate.
At
the same time, Correa rebuked the Obama administration for hypocrisy,
invoking the case of two bankers, brothers Roberto and William
Isaias, whom Ecuador is seeking to extradite from the US.
"Let's
be consistent," Correa said. "Have rules for everyone,
because that is a clear double-standard here."
The
US believes Snowden is holed up in a Moscow airport's transit zone.
He may be waiting to see whether Ecuador or another country may grant
him asylum. Snowden is charged with violating American espionage
laws.
Correspondence
obtained by Univision and shared with the Wall Street Journal shows
that divisions over Assange have agitated Ecuador's government.
After
meeting with other Ecuadorean diplomats privately, Correa declared
invalid a temporary travel document that could have helped extract
Snowden from his reported location in Moscow.
In
a TV interview on Friday, Snowden's father expressed concerns about
the involvement of WikiLeaks. "I don't want to put him in peril,
but I am concerned about those who surround him," Lonnie Snowden
told NBC's Today show.
"I
think WikiLeaks, if you've looked at past history … their focus
isn't necessarily the constitution of the United States. It's simply
to release as much information as possible."
Lonnie
Snowden said he told US attorney general Eric Holder through his
lawyer that his son might return home if he would not be detained
before trial, could choose the location for his trial and would not
be subjected to a gag order. It was not clear that Lonnie Snowden was
communicating his son's views, as he also said they had not spoken
since April.
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