You are here: Home > World > Top News

Putin hopes ties not affected by spy row

: 0 Comments Print E-mail Xinhua, June 30, 2010

Adjust font size:

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told former U.S. President Bill Clinton Tuesday that hopefully the latest Russian spy row in the United States would not jeopardize bilateral ties.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, right, and former U.S. President Bill Clinton seen during their meeting in the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, June 29, 2010. Putin criticised the U.S. arrests of suspects in an alleged Russian spy ring and said on Tuesday he hoped the scandal would not set back improving Russian-U.S. ties. [Xinhua]

"I hope very much that the positive that was collected recently in our interstate relations will not experience any harm because of the recent events," said Putin as quoted by the Interfax news agency.

"Your police are out of hand, jailing people," said Putin to Clinton.

Russian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that 11 suspected spies detained in the United States and Cyprus were Russians who did nothing to harm U.S. interests.

Don't miss

• U.S.-Russia spy case irritating

• Spy case clouds reset of Russia-U.S. ties

• Cyprus arrests man in U.S.-Russia spy case

• U.S. arrests 10 alleged Russian spies

However, according to the name list published by U.S. media, few of the 11 detainees' names sounded like with a Russian origin.

Previous reports said all the detainees were U.S. citizens spying for Russia, some of whom disguised as Canadians.

They were "Russian citizens who found themselves on U.S. territory at different times," said the RIA Novosti news agency.

"They have not committed any actions directed against U.S. interests."

1 2 3 Next