Green MEP calls on EU Governments to come clean over CIA activity
07 September 2006
UK Green MEP Jean Lambert, who was a member of the European Parliament's CIA Committee delegation to the US earlier this year, has today urged European Government's engaged in CIA activities to immediately come clean following US confirmation of secret prisons.
Jean, who sits on the European Parliament's Temporary Committee of enquiry in to the CIA 'extraordinary rendition' flights and has been awarded for her work on justice and human rights, said that in light of the evidence already established by the European Parliament it came as no surprise that the US had revealed the existence of CIA prisons.
Jean commented; "The European Parliament delegation to Washington earlier this year was given assurances by US officials that the US does not 'do extraordinary renditions'. Yesterday's admission of the existence of secret CIA camps shows that we have been justified in our scepticism and unwillingness to take US assurances at face value. The spotlight is now on those European governments that either bought into the US claims or failed to deny them. They must be completely forthcoming and engage fully in the investigation of such abuses.
"The inquiry into the alleged CIA 'extraordinary rendition' flights is like a puzzle that is nearly complete. Yesterday's revelation has added another dimension but there are still a few missing questions and issues that must be addressed before we can make a final conclusion. The exact locations of the illegal prisons in Europe must now be uncovered and the Parliament's inquiry should now focus on this."
