Euro MP Welcomes Italy Orders For CIA Kidnapping Trial
20 February 2007
Two days after the European Parliament criticised member states forturning a blind eye to CIA Extraordinary rendition activities, Italy'smove to put 26 CIA agents on trial for the kidnapping of an Egyptiancleric in Milan in 2003 could be the first of many cases, UK Euro MPJean Lambert has today warned.
Jean Lambert, who sits on the European Parliament's temporary Committeeof Inquiry, called on member state parliaments and governments toinvestigate fully what may have been happening on their territory bycontinuing their own inquiry and today welcomed Italy's lead to hold thefirst criminal trial over 'extraordinary rendition'.
Jean commented; "The European Parliament's report confronted us with anuncomfortable reality, that the CIA did both abduct and transportcivilians in EU Countries, a practice that many Governments and keyofficials were aware of. It is vital that justice is done throughcriminal trials such as the one Italy has ordered, for those who mayhave experienced such torture and to ensure that these violations neverhappen again.
"I am pleased to see that the Italian Government is acting on theallegations. The trial will dig a lot deeper into this individual casethan we previously could in the EU Parliament and may reveal furtherinformation that was not unearthed before. In the event of thishappening we will re-evaluate our findings and will keep a close watchover the trials activities as it progresses."
