TEXT OF LETTER FROM PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL OF EUROPE

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 008313

SIPDIS

DEPT ALSO FOR EUR/WE, EUR/ERA AND L

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2010
TAGS: PREL EU PTER PINR PHUM FR
SUBJECT: TEXT OF LETTER FROM PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL OF EUROPE
PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY TO THE SECRETARY

REF: A. (A) BALL/OWEN E-MAILS DECEMBER 6

B. 2005

C. (B) BALL/BAKER FAX DECEMBER 2

Classified By: Acting DCM Josiah Rosenblatt for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) Action request -- see para 5.


2. (U) Post received on December 6, 2005 faxed copy of a
letter to the Secretary from the President of the Council of
Europe's Parliamentary Assembly, Renee van der Linden. The
transmittal sheet attached to the letter from van der
Linden's Chief of Staff requests that the Ambassador transmit
President van der Linden's letter to the Secretary. A copy
of van der Linden's letter has been forwarded to the
Department as a pdf file (ref A).


3. (C) BEGIN TEXT OF LETTER:

Council of Europe
Parliamentary Assembly
The President

Strasbourg, 6 December 2005

Dear Secretary of State,

I write further to my letter of 2 December 2005, in which I
enquired about the possibility of a meeting with you during
your visit to Europe. The purpose of this meeting with you
would have been to discuss the issue of allegations relating
to secret detentions and extraordinary renditions involving
the C.I.A. and taking place on the territory of Council of
Europe member States.

I understand that the programme of your visit did not allow
for such a meeting to take place. I would like to take this
opportunity, therefore, to express some of the concerns that
I would otherwise have stated in person.

Democratic Europe has always enjoyed excellent mutual
relations with the USA. We all stand for the same values,
given effect through the basic principles of democracy, human
rights and the rule of law. I fear, however, that the
current allegations risk damaging the image of the USA in
Europe and undermining transatlantic relationships, at a time
when the global security situation requires strong alliances
between our countries.

For the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe,
which brings together 630 members of national parliaments
from 46 European countries, this matter is of utmost
importance. We consider that such possible practices as
secret detention and extraordinary rendition are in clear

SIPDIS
violation of our basic legal standards concerning the
prohibition on torture and inhuman treatment and the right to
liberty and security of the person. We have responded to the
current situation by establishing an enquiry, to be conducted
by the Chairperson of our Committee on Legal Affairs and
Human Rights, Mr. Dick Marty.

I would urge the U.S. authorities to cooperate fully with Mr.
Marty,s enquiries in order to discover and make public the
truth about these allegations. Your country,s position on
this issue is crucial in order to demonstrate that the same
rules apply to all countries. Failing this would seriously
undermine the moral foundations of the democratic world order.

Yours sincerely,

Ren van der Linden

END TEXT OF LETTER.



4. (U) The "letter of 2 December 2005" mentioned by van der
Linden in paragraph one refers to a letter, which has been
answered, from him to Ambassador Stapleton requesting a
meeting with the Secretary in Brussels on December 8 (ref B).
Van der Linden also sent a copy of his December 6 letter to
the U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative to the Council of
Europe, who is also the U.S. Consul General in Strasbourg,
France.


5. (C) Action request: Post requests Department's guidance.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm

Stapleton