The European Union's foreign policy chief said on Tuesday he had no proof U.S. intelligence agents had transferred al Qaeda suspects through Europe and that he had no powers to investigate the allegations.A Washington Post report last year that the CIA had run secret rendition flights and secret prisons in eastern Europe for al Qaeda suspects unleashed a spate of investigations, but none have so far produced a "smoking gun", or solid proof.
"I have no information whatsoever that tells me with certainty that any of the accusations, allegations, rumours, that have taken place are true," Javier Solana told a committee of European Parliament lawmakers probing the allegations. "I do not have the information - I do not have the competence - to ask the countries how they have handled these questions," Solana added.
He said the European Union treaty only allowed the bloc's executive branch, the European Commission, or at least a third of member states acting in concert, to raise the issue. Solana advised lawmakers to question NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, but de Hoop Scheffer told the parliament's foreign affairs committee: "I have no information on so-called, alleged, quote-unquote, CIA flights or alleged renditions."
| "Don't ask me, ask him!" |
| You mean it paints a more pathetic picture of the EU. |
Solana said the accusations of CIA abuses were "certainly not marginal issues for the transatlantic relations." He said the US had given assurances about not using torture on CIA flights but that he would welcome similar assurances on not using incommunicado detentions.
| Solana's powers are limited as he has no formal role as EU foreign minister. Which doesn't stop him from yapping, and doesn't stop the EU parliament from giving him money. |
| They think, since they can't prove anything. |
The European Parliament committee has no legal or judicial power but can recommend sanctions against states.