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Rice reassures NATO allies on CIA prisons
(AP)
Updated: 2005-12-08 20:49
European allies of the United States declared themselves
satisfied on Thursday with new assurances by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
that U.S. treatment of detainees was within international law.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
arrives at the Alliance headquarters ahead of a NATO foreign ministers
meeting in Brussels December 8, 2005. Rice is expected to face more
questions over U.S. treatment of detainees at a NATO meeting on Thursday,
the final leg of a European trip dogged by criticism of U.S. detention
policies. [Reuters] |
The issue has dogged her European tour, with accusations that the CIA has run
secret prisons in east Europe and covertly transported detainees in its war
against terrorism. Rights groups say incommunicado detention often leads to
torture.
Rice repeated her defense of U.S. practices at a dinner late on Wednesday for
NATO and EU foreign ministers on the eve of a one-day NATO meeting. Several
emerged satisfied after what a source described as a frank but respectful
exchange.
"I think NATO and EU ministers were able to raise their concerns that we
should not diverge from one another on the interpretation of international law,"
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told reporters.
"Secretary Rice promised that international agreements are not interpreted
any differently in the United States than they are in Europe. That, at least, is
a good statement," he told reporters as he arrived for the meeting on Thursday.
Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot, who signaled earlier this week that the
Netherlands would raise the matter during the talks, said he was "very
satisfied" with Rice's responses.
A source briefed on the dinner, which was tightly restricted to foreign
ministers, said Rice repeated arguments made earlier on her trip that Washington
had respected international law.
A NATO spokesman said the discussion had cleared the air and that those
present appeared to have been reassured.
"That seems to be the flavor of the (dinner) meeting. Today's (Thursday's)
discussions till now have concentrated purely on NATO business," he told a news
briefing.
NATO foreign ministers are due later to rubber-stamp new mission rules for an
expanded peacekeeping force in Afghanistan next year which Washington hopes will
allow some cuts to U.S. troop numbers there.
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