U.S. Invites Brazil President to Visit after Spying Row
The United States has again invited Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff to visit the United States, seeking to restore ties rattled by revelations of American spying against her and her country.
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden extended the invitation by telephone last week, said a spokesman for the Brazilian presidency on Tuesday.
Washington has proposed two options: a state visit in 2016, or a high level working visit this year, the official said.
Rousseff will respond when the two leaders meet at at a Summit of the Americans in Panama in April.
Rousseff was scheduled to visit Washington in October 2013 but she suspended the trip after it emerged that U.S. intelligence has spied on the telephone calls of millions of Brazilians, including Rousseff herself and her advisors, as well as state run oil giant Petrobras.
It was part of a broad campaign by U.S. intelligence agencies like the National Security Agency.
Brazil demanded a probe, an explanation and a pledge from the U.S. to stop such activity in order for the visit to take place.
If she does go to Washington, Rousseff will be the first Brazilian leader to do so in 20 years.
Source: Agence France Presse
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