WikiLeaks Reveals American Spying on French Governmental Officials

WikiLeaks, the notorious whistleblowing website, on June 23, began publishing “Espionnage Йlysйe”, a collection of　intelligence reports　and technical documents from the US National Security Agency (NSA) concerning targeting and signals intelligence intercepts　of the communications of high-level officials from successive French governments over the last ten years.

“The top secret documents derive from directly targeted NSA surveillance of the communications of French Presidents　Francois Hollande (2012–present),　Nicolas Sarkozy (2007–2012), and　Jacques Chirac (1995–2007), as well as French cabinet ministers and the French Ambassador to the United States,” says the website. “The documents also contain the　”selectors” from the target list, detailing the cell phone numbers of numerous officials in the Elysee up to and including the direct cell phone of the President,” it continues.

According to a media source, this latest ‘leak’ includes a top secret cache of documents of　intelligence, summaries of conversations　between French government officials concerning some of the most pressing issues facing France and the international community, the　global financial crisis, the　Greek debt crisis,　the leadership and the 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 were also leaked.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said: “The French people have a right to know that their elected government is subject to hostile surveillance from a supposed ally. We are proud of our work with leading French publishers Liberation and Mediapart to bring this story to light. French readers can expect more timely and important revelations in the near future.”

The website says the recent publication provides much greater insight into American practices with its allies, including the actual content of intelligence derived from the intercepts, showing that the US has allegedly been listening in to the phone calls of French leaders and ministers for political, economic and diplomatic intelligence.

Zviad Adzinbaia