Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08COPENHAGEN38
2008-01-31 13:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Copenhagen
Cable title:  

DANISH DOCUMENTARY REVIVES CALLS FOR INQUIRY ON

Tags:  PREL PTER DA 
pdf how-to read a cable
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OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHCP #0038/01 0311312
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 311312Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4029
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COPENHAGEN 000038 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2018
TAGS: PREL PTER DA
SUBJECT: DANISH DOCUMENTARY REVIVES CALLS FOR INQUIRY ON
CIA FLIGHTS

Classified By: DCM Sandra Kaiser, reasons 1.4b,d

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COPENHAGEN 000038

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2018
TAGS: PREL PTER DA
SUBJECT: DANISH DOCUMENTARY REVIVES CALLS FOR INQUIRY ON
CIA FLIGHTS

Classified By: DCM Sandra Kaiser, reasons 1.4b,d


1. (C) Summary: A documentary aired January 30 on Danish
state television alleges that civilian aircraft operated by
the CIA have routinely transited Danish airspace in support
of renditions. The film has provoked strong reaction from
the Danish opposition and officials in Greenland, where the
flights allegedly landed, prompting renewed calls for an
independent investigation of possible CIA flights. Danish
government officials have expressed their concerns about the
allegations publicly, but have indicated to us privately
their interest in quieting the matter as quickly as possible.
The Danish government is now working to hold together a thin
majority to block expected moves for an inquiry in
parliament. Our response has been to say as little as
possible, downplaying the film and the issue when raised.
End summary.


2. (C) Largely a rehash of previous accounts of alleged CIA
renditions, the Danish documentary, "The CIA's Danish
Connection," also presents new allegations of flights
transiting Danish territory in Narsarsuaq, Greenland. The
film details the CIA's alleged use of private air companies
as fronts for the transportation of detainees and includes
the journalists' (ultimately unsuccessful) efforts to track
down individual pilots in the U.S. It features retired CIA
officers making assertions that these flights could have been
used for renditions. The documentary also contains a long
interview iwth Khalid Al-Masri, and links the names of CIA
contractors allegedly associated with his case to the
Greeenland flights. The documentary relies on tenuous
connections and leaps of logic (its narration frankly
concedes that its allegations cannot be proven),but has
offered enough new information to prevent the Danish
government from dismissing it as old news.


3. (C) Predictably, the documentary drew an immediate and
sharp reaction from the center-left opposition, which had
called for investigations into previous allegations of CIA
overflights, but had been unable to secure majority backing
for measures in parliament. This time, however, the
government has even fewer seats -- since November 2007

elections -- and may not be able to count on the support of
the otherwise-allied New Alliance party (which had featured
concerns about renditions in its electoral platform).
Greenlandic politicians added their voices to the debate,
with Greenland Home Rule FM Aleqa Hammond charging that
Greenland had been "misled and misused," and demanding an
investigation.


4. (C) The Danish government also moved quickly to address
the controversy, issuing a joint MFA-Transportation-Justice
Ministry statement late the evening of the broadcast. In it,
the ministers sought to assure the Danish public that it
takes the documentary's allegations seriously and will look
into the matter further, including with the American
authorities "if needed." The statement recalled that Denmark
had previously outlined its concerns about possible
overflights to the U.S. government and made clear its
opposition to use of its airspace in violation of
international law. The statement rejected calls for an
independent investigation, insisting that there is no
indication of Danish complicity, a position reiterated the
following day by both FM Per Stig Moller and Prime Minister
Anders Fogh Rasmussen.


5. (C) Privately, Danish officials have made clear their
interest in making this issue go away as quickly and quietly
as possible. PM National Security Advisor Thomas Ahrenkiel
and MFA Undersecretary Michael Zilmer-Johns told us
separately that the controversy surrounding the film has put
the government under considerable pressure and that they are
working hard to calm the situation and avoid a mandatory
investigation in parliament. Zilmer-Johns noted that "we
have been through this before" and stated flatly that the
Danish government doesn't require anything from the U.S. on
this -- for now, anyway. In an unrelated meeting with the
Ambassador January 31, Danish intelligence and security (PET)
chief Jakob Scharf appeared unconcerned by the story.


6. (C) Comment: Our response to media and official interest
has been to say little, beyond noting that we do not comment
on counter-terrorism matters and suggesting that we regard
the documentary's conclusions as thin. The Danish government
clearly shares our desire to get past this latest flare-up of
the overflights/renditions issue and together we will work to
avoid keeping the story alive in the media. If the
government prevails in blocking an inquiry and satisfying the
Greenlanders (FM Moller reportedly called Greenland PM Hans

COPENHAGEN 00000038 002 OF 002


Enoksen to assure him of the Danish government's plans to
review the matter),then this controversy could be over
within a few days. If not, such an investigation could prove
an unhelpful distraction for months to come.
CAIN