U.S., Australia continues to dispute over Julian Assange’s release

ANKARA (AA) – The U.S. has rejected Australia’s request for the release of Julian Assange.

Australia is demanding that the case be brought to a close. The U.S., on the other hand, is demanding the extradition of Assange and charge him with espionage.

The differences on this issue became clear during a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Australian counterpart Penny Wong in Brisbane on Sunday.

Wong said Canberra wants the Assange case to be brought to a conclusion.

Addressing a joint news conference alongside Blinken, Wong said: “We have made clear our view that Mr. Assange’s case has dragged for too long, and our desire that it be brought to a conclusion, and we’ve said that publicly and you would anticipate that that reflects also the position we articulate in private.”

Blinken said he understood Australian concern about the case, but he also stressed the importance of U.S. concern about Assange’s alleged actions.

“I really do understand and certainly confirm what Penny said about the fact that this matter was raised with us, as it has been in the past, and I understand the sensitivities, I understand the concerns and views of Australians,” he said.

“I think it is very important that our friends here understand our concerns about this matter,” he added.

“I say that only because, just as we understand sensitivities here, it’s important that our friends understand sensitivities in the United States,” Blinken underlined.

Assange is an Australian citizen and is being held in Britain, where authorities last year approved his extradition to the U.S.

He is wanted for his alleged role in leaking classified U.S. military information.

Many media outlets around the world have called on the U.S. to drop charges against Assange and halt his prosecution to protect journalism.

Australia is calling for Assange to be returned to his country of origin. However, it has stressed that it is not in a position to intervene in another country’s legal proceedings.

Assange has been in pre-trial detention at Belmarsh Prison in Britain for about four years, after spending seven years at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.

Australia’s Special Broadcasting Service reported Sunday that the Assange issue has led to a rare flare-up of disagreement between Australia and the U.S.