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MEPs probe Poland rendition claim | MEPs probe Poland rendition claim |
(about 22 hours later) | |
A European Parliament delegation is in Poland to examine claims that terror suspects were transported and detained secretly in Europe by the CIA. | |
The group of MEPs will meet one government minister, airport officials and journalists during their three-day fact-finding mission. | |
Similar delegations have visited the US, UK, Romania and Macedonia. | Similar delegations have visited the US, UK, Romania and Macedonia. |
Poland was one of two states identified by Human Rights Watch as possibly having secret detention centres. | Poland was one of two states identified by Human Rights Watch as possibly having secret detention centres. |
The Polish government has repeatedly denied the allegations. | The Polish government has repeatedly denied the allegations. |
European Union officials believe many governments in Europe are reluctant to investigate these sensitive and potentially embarrassing allegations. | European Union officials believe many governments in Europe are reluctant to investigate these sensitive and potentially embarrassing allegations. |
Not much hope | Not much hope |
The idea behind visits such as this one is to apply pressure to get governments to cooperate. | The idea behind visits such as this one is to apply pressure to get governments to cooperate. |
But privately the MEPs do not hold out much hope for this trip to Poland. | But privately the MEPs do not hold out much hope for this trip to Poland. |
Only one middle-ranking government member has agreed to meet them, and only after the delegation insisted. | Only one middle-ranking government member has agreed to meet them, and only after the delegation insisted. |
The MEPs will want to investigate claims by Human Rights Watch that CIA flights landed at a small airport in north-eastern Poland. | The MEPs will want to investigate claims by Human Rights Watch that CIA flights landed at a small airport in north-eastern Poland. |
The airport is close to a base which houses the military's intelligence school. | The airport is close to a base which houses the military's intelligence school. |
As a close ally of the US, the Polish government admits both countries' intelligence services co-operate closely but it denies the country ever hosted a secret CIA prison. | |
Poland's parliament has carried out its own investigation into the claims. Its findings were never made public but the government declared itself satisfied. | Poland's parliament has carried out its own investigation into the claims. Its findings were never made public but the government declared itself satisfied. |
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