MEPs STRONGLY BACK INVESTIGATION OF CIA 'RENDITION' ALLEGATIONS - LIZ LYNNE

4.26.59pm GMT Thu 15th Dec 2005

MEPs have voted overwhelmingly to back the setting up of a temporary

committee to investigate the allegations of CIA illegal 'extraordinary

rendition' and European governments' complicity.

Liz Lynne, Lib Dem MEP for the West Midlands and Member of the

Subcommittee on Human Rights, said:

"The European Parliament has shown it is serious and determined about

getting at the truth regarding extraordinary rendition, and if necessary

to launch the sanctions process against any EU Member State shown to have

gravely breached human rights.

"Inquiries by EU bodies should add value to, rather than duplicate, the

work of Dick Marty, investigator for the Council of Europe which is the

pan-European human rights watchdog.

"I urge EU justice Commissioner Frattini to help MEPs by showing more

pro-active vigour in quizzing EU governments as well as foreign policy

chief Javier Solana and counter-terrorism coordinator Gijs de Vries. He

must resist the temptation - perhaps influenced by his own status as a

former foreign minister - to take governments' denials of wrongdoing at

face value.

"This exercise is not about singling out any particular government for

punishment. It is about the EU as a whole cleaning house so that we can

restore our reputation and credibility as a champion of fundamental

rights."

ENDS.