Saturday, March 29, 2014

U.S. And Russia Disagree On What Was Discussed In The Phone Call Between Between Obama And Putin

U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin (Reuters/RIA Novosti)

White House And Kremlin Seem To Have Different Recollections Of Obama-Putin Call -- Washington Post

On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Barack Obama spoke on the phone. Given recent tensions over Ukraine and Crimea, dialogue seems like a good thing. However, were the two presidents really talking to each other? After reading the two official statements about the call, it sounds like they got some wires crossed or something.

Here's how the White House said the call went:

President Putin called President Obama today to discuss the U.S. proposal for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis in Ukraine, which Secretary Kerry had again presented to Foreign Minister Lavrov at the meeting at the Hague earlier this week, and which we developed following U.S. consultations with our Ukrainian and European partners.  President Obama suggested that Russia put a concrete response in writing and the presidents agreed that Kerry and Lavrov would meet to discuss next steps.

Read more ....

My Comment: The Russian press is giving both sides of the story .... what President Obama said and pointed out and what Russian President Putin said and pointed out .... Putin, Obama discuss political chaos in Ukraine -- RT

This difference in the narratives comes more from what each side regards to be the more important issue .... and to then emphasize it for their own public's consumption.

Update: Oh oh .... is there a pattern? .... Only God knows for sure: Obama, pope differ on accounts of ‘social schisms’ talk -- Washington Times

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