US eludes questions about NSA spying on Turkey

WASHINGTON

The U.S. on Thursday refused to comment on a report that an American intelligence agency spied on a Turkish security meeting in 2014.

"We're not going to comment publicly on every specific alleged intelligence or disclosure activity," said State Department spokesman John Kirby.

Asked about a Germany-based magazine's claims that the NSA had spied on a top Turkish security meeting that discussed Turkey’s possible intervention in Syria to protect a Turkish enclave, Kirby directed all related questions to the NSA.

The magazine’s claims include that the NSA tapped the Turkish intelligence chief’s phone and collected audio from the meeting.

Kirby was also asked about whether Turkey and the U.S. see eye-to-eye on local partnering on the Syria crisis.

"Turkey is concerned with respect to fighters across the border,” he said, whereas the U.S.’s focus inside Syria is against Daesh.

"I would like to remind everybody that Turkey is a part of that coalition, not just a NATO ally, but a part of that coalition. And they're contributing to the effort," he added.

WASHINGTON

The U.S. on Thursday refused to comment on a report that an American intelligence agency spied on a Turkish security meeting in 2014.

"We're not going to comment publicly on every specific alleged intelligence or disclosure activity," said State Department spokesman John Kirby.

The magazine’s claims include that the NSA tapped the Turkish intelligence chief’s phone and collected audio from the meeting.

Kirby was also asked about whether Turkey and the U.S. see eye-to-eye on local partnering on the Syria crisis.

"Turkey is concerned with respect to fighters across the border,” he said, whereas the U.S.’s focus inside Syria is against Daesh.

"I would like to remind everybody that Turkey is a part of that coalition, not just a NATO ally, but a part of that coalition. And they're contributing to the effort," he added.