Posted on 12/04/2005 11:43:01 AM PST by lizol
Romania demands proof of CIA prisons allegations 2005-12-04 14:10
By Antonia Oprita
BUCHAREST, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Romania has asked Human Rights Watch for detailed evidence to support the campaign group's allegations that the Balkan country may have hosted secret CIA prisons, Foreign Minister Razvan Ungureanu said on Sunday.
Last month, the U.S.-based group pointed to Romania, which hopes to join the European Union in 2007, and Poland as possible sites where the United States may have held prisoners in secret. Both countries have denied the allegations, while Washington has neither confirmed nor denied the existence of secret jails. "We have shown willingness to any attempts to check that something like this exists," Ungureanu told a news conference. "And since harm has been done to our image ... it's time to ask officially, other than in a dialogue between the embassy and Human Rights Watch, for very clear evidence," he said. "It is in our best interest to be informed on this issue. If they (prisons) existed and we didn't know, it's a different matter ... and we are ready to discuss it."
The prison allegations broke out just as Romania is due to sign a deal with the United States to set up U.S. military bases in the Black Sea country as part of Washington's plans to move its European military facilities closer to hot spots such as the Middle East. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will stop in Bucharest to seal the agreement on Tuesday during a trip to Europe which includes meetings in Germany and EU headquarters Brussels.
Facing mounting controversy over Washington's treatment of terrorism suspects, Rice is expected to warn European allies to back off. Asked how will the Romanian government make sure the future U.S. bases are not be used as CIA prisons, Ungureanu said the accord between the two countries will take into account United Nations and EU legislation. "The presence of U.S. forces in our country contributes to strengthening security and stability in Romania and in the region," he said.
Romania, which joined NATO in 2004, is grateful to Washington for supporting its bid to enter the Atlantic alliance, and has been a staunch ally of U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The government has not given the exact location of the bases, but resident Traian Basescu has said possible sites included abadag, close to the Danube delta, Mihail Kogalniceanu near the Black Sea and Fetesti, some 200 km (125 miles) east of Bucharest. U.S. soldiers used the Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase as a hub to send equipment and 7,000 combat troops into Iraq during the early stages of the nvasion in 2003, and temporarily kept up to 3,500 American troops there.
Romania vs. FC Useful Idiots
Romania wont be badgered by the Defeatists. They know the sting of tyranny and wont give in to anyone now.
Stand tall Romania.
Armydawg1, father of an adopted Romanian orphan.
Very good indeed.
Whoever brought up this Secret prison crap, needs a Secret foot up their Secret butts.
I sure am tired of traitors-- Yes Traitors-- selling out this country.
Again this morning I heard John Kerry-infamous traitor -calling the President a liar saying he was misled, This stupid piece of feces misled. What a traitorous lying piece of rotten meat he is. When asked if he would run for President, he said he didnt know yet, Imagine having Quisling for President.
The "seriousness of the allegation" is all that matters to Leftist, anti-American kooks.
Back BONE!
Could the secret prisons story be another DNC scam to bash the president?
Its possible the whole thing IS a DNC scam. I wouldnt be surprised. I havent seen the CIA lately do anything that would convince me they had the balls to set up a secret prison where torture was used to extract information
However even if the prisons do exist it should be a criminal act to release that information. Who cares about some idiot woman who marries a Clinton asslicker getting outed about working for the CIA when she was not undercover in the first place. But this is important,it could hurt American credibility and the ability to get information and the leaker should be shot in my opinion.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.