FOREIGN SECRETARY MILIBAND SUBMITS RENDITION

S E C R E T LONDON 001777 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER UK SUBJECT: FOREIGN SECRETARY MILIBAND SUBMITS RENDITION STATEMENT TO PARLIAMENT Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (S/NF) Foreign Office Director for Defence and Strategic Threats Simon Manley informed Poloff July 2 that the Foreign Office would submit Foreign Secretary Miliband's written statement on rendition to Parliament July 2, for entry into Parliamentary records July 3. Manley said the statement (see Para 2) had been cleared by "State and (GPRO)." There are no plans for an oral statement, but questions from MP's are likely over the next week and the statement will likely attract considerable press attention as well as skepticism from NGOs and op-ed writers. FS Miliband's Written Statement on Rendition -------------- ¶2. (U) Begin Statement: Terrorist Suspects (Rendition) On 21 February I made a statement to the House regarding new information we had been passed by the US Government regarding rendition. Contrary to earlier assurances that Diego Garcia had not been used for rendition flights, US investigations had revealed two occasions, both in 2002, when this had in fact occurred. Since February, I have corresponded with Secretary Rice on this issue and our officials have continued to work through the details and implications of the new information. I promised the House that, as part of this of this (sic) process, my officials would compile a list of flights where we had been alerted to concern about rendition through the UK or our Overseas Territories. The list which they have compiled, containing 391 flights, reflects concerns put to us by hon. Members, members of the public, multilateral organisations and non-governmental organisations. Inclusion on this list does not represent an official endorsement of any allegations about a particular flight. On the contrary, US government flights as with other government flights occur regularly for a variety of purposes. Our intention was to collate in one place those concerns that had been put to us directly. The list was passed to the US on 15 May. I undertook in February to publish the list and have today placed a copy in the library of the House and published it on the FCO website (www.fco.gov.uk). The United States Government received the list of flights from the UK Government. The United States Government confirmed that, with the exception of two cases related to Diego Garcia in 2002, there have been no other instances in which US intelligence flights landed in the United Kingdom, its Overseas Territories, or the Crown Dependencies, with a detainee on board since September 11, 2001. Our US allies are agreed on the need to seek our permission for any future renditions through UK territory. Secretary Rice has underlined to me the firm US understanding that there will be no rendition through the UK, our Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, with a detainee on board since September 11, 2001. Our US Allies are agreed on the need to seek our permission for any future renditions through UK territory. Secretary Rice has underlined to me the firm US understanding that there will be no rendition through the UK, our Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies or Airspace without first receiving our express permission. We have made clear that we would only grant such permission if we were satisfied that the rendition would accord with UK law and our international obligations. The circumstances of any such request would be carefully examined on a case-by-case basis. Our intelligence and counter-terrorism relationship with the US is vital to the national security of the United Kingdom. There must and will continue to be the strongest possible intelligence and counter-terrorism relationship between our two countries, consistent with UK law and our international obligations. (End Text) Visit London's Classified Website: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom TUTTLE