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The decision comes as a reaction to the 'rendition' of terror suspects
from Europe to locations that allow less-restrictive interrogation.
The American Central Intelligence Agency can no longer use Danish airspace
for flights to transport suspected terrorists around the world.
The government has told the United States that it is opposed to the unauthorized
flights, Foreign Minister Per Stig Møller said.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has made it quite clear to U.S.
officials that Denmark does not want its airspace used for purposes that are
in conflict with international conventions,” wrote Møller, in response
to an inquiry from Frank Aaen, the Red-Green Alliance military affairs spokesman
[a Danish political Party].
Reports surfaced in May that civilian aircraft secretly registered to the CIA
had been sighted over Denmark. Human rights organizations claim that the planes
are used to transport terror suspects to places where torture is conducted.
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Per Stig Møller |
Møller had originally denied that the government had knowledge of transports
taking place in Danish airspace that violate “international conventions.”
Aaen, however, said he remained unsatisfied with the ministry's statement.
“The government must have discovered a problem with the apparent misuse
of Danish airspace by Denmark's close ally. Nevertheless, the government continues
to use cautious language in the hope that no one will notice. It would benefit
the government if it clearly rejected such flights instead of singing a half-finished
song,” Aaen said.
