France summons US ambassador over spying allegation

Jane Hartley, United States (US) ambassador to France, has been summoned by Laurent Fabius, French foreign minister, over allegation that the US national security agency (NSA) spied on three French presidents.

Media reports quoting diplomatic sources as saying spokeswoman for the US embassy in Paris said she could not confirm or deny the invitation.

The French foreign ministry did not respond to Reuters immediate requests for confirmation.

Whistle blowing website, WikiLeaks, had published alleged NSA reports about secret communications of the last three French presidents between 2006 and 2012.

Responding, France condemned the development, saying it would not tolerate “any action jeopardizing its security and the protection of its interests.”

“These unacceptable facts already resulted in clarifications between France and the United States in 2013 and 2014,” the country’s defense council said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

“Commitments were made by the American authorities … They must be recalled and strictly respected.”

Meanwhile, President Francois Hollande of France has convened a meeting with his defence ministers to assess the situation.

Ned Price, spokesman of White House’s national security council, debunked the allegation.

“We are not targeting and will not target the communications of President Hollande,” he said.

“Indeed, as we have said previously, we do not conduct any foreign intelligence surveillance activities unless there is a specific and validated national security purpose. This applies to ordinary citizens and world leaders alike.

“We work closely with France on all matters of international concern, and the French are indispensable partners.”

French newspaper Liberation and online outlet Mediapart cited five NSA reports published by Wikileaks on Tuesday and purportedly pulled from intercepted communications of former Presidents Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy, as well as Hollande and other French figures.

According to a WikiLeaks news release, the cache of “top secret” documents includes “intelligence summaries of conversations between French government officials concerning some of the most pressing issues facing France and the international community.

“These include the global financial crisis, the Greek debt crisis, the leadership and future of the European Union, the relationship between the Hollande administration and the German government of Angela Merkel, French efforts to determine the make-up of the executive staff of the United Nations.

“French involvement in the conflict in Palestine and a dispute between the French and US governments over US spying on France.”

Julian Assange, WikiLeaks founder, said the French people “have a right to know that their elected government is subject to hostile surveillance from a supposed ally.”