Failing to get a satisfactory explanation about Snowden's revelations from the Washington government, Brazil is planning to send a delegation to the U.S. over its alleged spying on Brazilian individuals and corporate communications.
Speaking to the state-run, Agencia Brazil news agency, Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota said that the group will first meet with the technical experts in Washington and then analyze the information obtained from the experts before raising the issue with American politicians and diplomats. The minister didn't disclose when the delegation will visit the country.
U.S. National Security Agency's surveillance programs leaked by Snowden showed how the U.S. had been carrying out covert surveillance on many countries including Brazil. Following the news, Brazil had sought an explanation from the Obama administration.
The visit was proposed by U.S. Vice President, Joe Biden during a phone conversation with the Brazilian President, Dilma Rousseff on Snowden's revelations, according to sources.
After discussing with its cabinet, the Brazilian president had released a statement demanding a reply from the Washington government.
"The Brazilian government has asked for clarifications through the US embassy in Brasília and the Brazilian embassy in Washington," said Patriota recently.
The communications minister, Paulo Bernardo, said NSA might have spied on the citizens and cooperates by tapping undersea cables or by using satellites.
"If that has happened, these companies broke Brazilian law and acted against our constitution, which safeguards the right to privacy," said Paulo Bernardo.
Edward Snowden, who leaked NSA's surveillance programs of monitoring movements and communications, is held up in the transit zone of Moscow's airport since his arrival from Hong Kong. An arrest warrant was issued by the U.S. government on charges of espionage and theft of government property.
He had requested for asylum to more than 25 countries but many of them turned down his request in fear of retaliation from the Obama administration.
Few countries in Latin America including Venezuela have offered him shelter but he has been unable to travel to Latin America since his passport had been revoked by the government.
Snowden's lawyer in Russia said that he hopes to move out of the transit zone soon as he applies for a temporary asylum in Russia but he is still in limbo in the transit zone.
