Angela merkel favours surveillance for citizen’s security
Berlin: German Chancellor Angela Merkel has defended German intelligence services with other countries, saying that the intelligence work is essential for the security of citizens.
Merkel said that she was made aware of US spying programmes through media reports, as the opposition has pressed her on how much she knew about US surveillance activities after whistleblower Edward Snowden made revelations about US spying network.
Snowden told German magazine Der Spiegel in a recent interview that the US National Security Agency (NSA) worked closely with the German intelligence service.
She said that intelligence work in democratic states has always been and will in future be essential for the security of citizens, adding that a country without intelligence work would be too vulnerable.
US President Barack Obama and Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed on last Wednesday to hold a high-level bilateral meeting over US surveillance programmes.
