It makes deciphering issues much more difficult.

These are very, very difficult issues. I've heard about a lot of tensions between the parties. There are tensions every day when you're working through these issues.

We had been raising the issue privately, ... and as part of raising difficult issues that we need to discuss, I felt it was appropriate.

I wouldn't use that phrase. Obviously, there are very difficult issues in front of them, but the parties are continuing to work at them.

[The issue has raised] many difficult and novel policy and regulatory issues, ... We need to resolve these policy and regulatory questions before we can reach a decision on the underlying science.

This is an ongoing process. The issues are difficult and complex and the president feels it's important to bring the leaders together.