Questions that need to be asked

Numerous reports have appeared in the European press lately suggesting that the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is operating secret detention centres in a number of European Union member states.

Despite the fact that a number of countries have officially denied the existence of any such centres, many of my colleagues in the European Parliament are calling for a fully-fledged official investigation by the Commission on these persistent reports. They did so during a debate on the issue which we had in Strasbourg.

The officials at the Berlaymont are being over-zealous in the interpretation of their duties and claim that they do not have such investigative powers. The only thing that Vice President Franco Frattini did was pledge carrying out "political action" on this issue. On the other hand, one could interpret article 6 of the treaty which governs the work of the Commission as granting such powers.

Practically all political groups converged that all necessary action must be taken to fight terrorism but that the existence of any such secret detention centres would be intolerable.

Several European Union member states have already opened inquiries into CIA operations in their countries. Agence Europe reported that "German justice is inquiring into the kidnapping in Italy, in February 2003, of an ex-Imam by CIA agents. It is said he was taken to Egypt via the US base in Ramstein (south-western Germany). The public prosecutor's office in Milan called on November 11 for the extradition of 22 CIA agents suspected of having taken part in the kidnapping of the former Imam of a mosque in that town, Osama Mustafa Hassan. American secret agents are said to have used the San Juan de Palma airport on the island of Majorca as a rear base for kidnapping suspected Islamic terrorists in the world. The matter has been referred to Spanish justice".

On November 20, The Malta Independent on Sunday reported that "Flight records and photographs obtained by this newspaper place two suspected CIA planes at Malta International Airport on two separate occasions - one in December 2003 and another in December 2004". To the date of writing there was no official reaction to this story.

Of course, as I already said, no resource can be spared with the terrorists. But kidnapping people or holding someone in a secret location without people in the "host country" knowing is definitely not on.

Given our geographical location and the events in recent history - read the Shqaqi murder - I do sincerely hope that Malta has nothing to do with any such cases.

I must say I sympathise a lot with the American people even though I am a lot less sympathetic with their present administration. But then, that is up to the American electorate to decide. I do think that both Malta and the United States stand a lot to gain by strengthening the political, economic and social relations between us.

Nevertheless, this does not mean that anything should go by unnoticed. I am referring in particular to the new complex that the American government intends developing in Ta' Qali, near what used to be a military airfield. The Maltese government has already agreed to sell this huge piece of land for some $18 million. I have many reservations on such a deal. I do question the rationale of giving the green light to such a large complex or centre in a very strategic location. I would have voiced the same doubts even if this move were done by any other government. I do believe there is a general consensus in our country that Malta should not be used for covert operations by anyone.

The issue should soon be debated in the Maltese Parliament, ironically not because of the substance of the project but because it will involve the sale of public land. I do hope that those responsible will raise the pertinent questions on this matter.

Mr Muscat is a Labour member of the European Parliament.