ACTION REQUEST: GUIDANCE ON RESPONSE TO COE

UNCLAS PARIS 007785

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINR PINS FR
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: GUIDANCE ON RESPONSE TO COE
INVESTIGATION



1. (U) This is an action request. See para 3.


2. (U) Amb. Stapleton received by fax a letter (full text
para 4) from Dick Marty, whom the Council of Europe
Parliamentary Assembly has appointed to investigate the
allegations of CIA secret detention centers in CoE member
countries. The key phrase reads, "I would very much
appreciate receiving from your authorities any pertinent
information they may be able to provide me with on this
subject."


3. (U) ACTION REQUEST: Please provide authorized language
for use by Ambassador and Strasbourg consulate in response to
COE requests.


4. (U) Text of Marty letter:

Parliamentary Assembly
The Council of Europe
Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights
The Chairperson

14 November 2005

Dear Mr. Roberts Stapleton,

I address this letter to you in your capacity as Permanent
Observer of the United States of America to the Council of
Europe.

As you are no doubt aware, I have recently been instructed by
the Parliamentary Assembly,s Committee on Legal Affairs and
Human Rights to collect information on &alleged secret
detention centres in Council of Europe member states8 as a
result of communications received on this subject from a
number of sources, especially Human Rights Watch.

With this in mind, and in particular the existence of serious
allegations concerning your country,s involvement in such
activities in Council of Europe member States as of 2001, I
would very much appreciate receiving from your authorities
any pertinent information they may be able to provide me with
on this subject.

I look forward to receiving a reply to my request at your
earliest convenience and thank you for your cooperation.

Yours Sincerely,


Dick Marty

END LETTER TEXT



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Hofmann