Washington – The Bush administration, responding to European alarm over allegations of secret detention camps and the transport of terror suspects on European soil, insisted Tuesday that U.S. actions complied with international law but promised to respond to formal inquiries from European nations.
The administration’s comments came after the new German foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, raised concerns about alleged American practices in the handling and interrogation of captives during his meeting with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Tuesday, according to U.S. and German officials.
In addition, European officials said the British foreign secretary, Jack Straw, sent a letter to Rice on Tuesday on behalf of the European Union asking for clarification of administration practices. Britain currently holds the union’s presidency.
“The United States realizes that these are topics that are generating interest among European publics as well as parliaments and that these questions need to be responded to,” said Sean McCormack, the State Department spokesman. He added that Rice said the administration would respond to any official request for information.
The question of whether European nations have been complicit in the administration’s actions has seized the attention of Europe’s press, public and politicians since reports Nov. 2 that prisoners had been secretly held in bases in Europe or transported through them.
Several European governments have denied playing a role or have demanded explanations.
“Like I said, and we have said many times from this podium, we’re just not in a position to confirm those reports,” McCormack said Tuesday. He added that confronting terrorism was “a shared responsibility of all countries” and that perpetrators of terrorist acts “don’t comply with any laws.”
“All U.S. actions comply with U.S. laws,” McCormack said.