Condoleezza Rice, US secretary of state, is expected to begin her trip to Europe next week with a forceful rejection of requests for information regarding alleged secret CIA prisons in Europe and clandestine transiting of war-on-terror suspects.
Diplomats said that Ms Rice, who arrives in Germany on Monday and meets Chancellor Angela Merkel the next day, is not expected to reveal information – as formally requested by the European Union last week – but to defend the US need to obtain intelligence.
“Her response will be suitably diplomatic, but also forceful,” commented one envoy.
The US state department declined to comment on how Ms Rice would respond. While refusing to respond to reports of secret prisons and transport of detainees in Europe, officials insist that US actions are in compliance with US law and international conventions. US law prohibits secret prisons on US territory.
Elizabeth Cheney, a senior state department official and daughter of the vice president, told Arab reporters this week that “a new set of rules” was required when dealing with an enemy like al-Qaeda.
European concerns have been exacerbated by the Bush administration’s efforts to exempt the CIA from proposed US legislation that would prohibit the “cruel, inhumane and degrading” treatment of detainees.
While EU member states share no desire to have these sensitive issues aired openly, the mounting public attention threatens to undermine what diplomats generally regard as the positive trend in transatlantic relations driven by President George W. Bush in his second term.
Diplomats said there had been intense debate within the Bush administration over how to respond to the request penned last week by Jack Straw, the UK foreign secretary, for the EU presidency. In the end, an uncompromising stance appears to have prevailed.
The Council of Europe, representing 46 nations, has already opened an official inquiry.
The alleged existence of secret CIA prisons in eastern Europe was reported last month by the Washington Post. It said US officials asked that the countries involved not be named. Poland and Romania denied subsequent claims by Human Rights Watch, based on flight records, that they had provided facilities.
CIA flights have landed in numerous European countries, according to press reports, but it is not known whether prisoners were on board.
Sean McCormack, the State Department spokesman, on Friday denied that the issue had strained relations with Europe. He stressed cooperation over Iran’s nuclear programme, Nato’s work in Afghanistan, joint efforts in Iraq, and the fight against infectious diseases.
Ms Rice is also due to visit Romania, Ukraine and Brussels.
