INTERVIEW «No-Spy» deal unlikely in Obama-Merkel talks, expert says By Pat Reber, dpa

Obama and Merkel could try to patch up their NSA spat so they can get on with the pressing issue of Ukraine. But the German chancellor is unlikely to get the "No-Spy" promise from Obama that the German public has been pushing for.

Washington (dpa) - Germans expect Chancellor Angela Merkel to press US President Barack Obama on the topic of NSA spying when they meet Friday. But the White House is unlikely to give any ground.

Stephen Szabo, an expert on US-German affairs at the German-Marshall Fund think tank and director of its Transatlantic Academy, spoke to dpa about the first private face-to-face meeting between the two since the uproar over the NSA tapping of Merkels phone.

Szabo says the US-German relationship is in a bad state and the two leaders are working to patch it up. He does not expect a "No-Spy" deal to be announced, but thinks there may be some type of agreement in the works.

DPA: The White House has not provided many details about Merkels visit. What do you make of that?

SZABO: What I dont understand about this visit is why she is coming over unless they have something agreed. That would have to be on NSA, I would think, because shes getting a lot of political flak at home still for her position on this and I think she wants to close the gap with Obama.

DPA: What kind of overture do you think Obama could make?

SZABO: I think maybe hell make another statement ... He will certainly reassure her that theyre not bugging her phone, that thats stopped. I dont know if hell apologize but hell certainly make it clear that he regrets what was done and that it wont happen again in the future. I dont think theyll do a No Spy deal.

Thats why Im kind of puzzled by this visit. I dont see what hes going to give her that she can take back to Germany and say, "Look, I got this."

DPA: Any other issues you expect at the meeting?

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INTERVIEW «No-Spy» deal unlikely in Obama-Merkel talks, expert says By Pat Reber, dpa