RENDITION FLIGHTS: SNP FINDINGS HIGHLIGHTED
Posted on Tuesday, January 24 2006
"Council of Europe draws attention to SNP report"
A Scottish National Party (SNP) report on intelligence flights through
Scottish airports has been highlighted by the Council of Europe. The
dossier is part of the evidence which the human-rights watchdog used to
conclude that European governments almost certainly knew about the
secret American prisoner flights.
According to the study conducted by Swiss MP Dick Marty for the Council
of
Europe: 'renditions' in Europe were likely to have involved "more than a
hundred persons in recent years".
Mr Marty said that hundreds of CIA-chartered flights "have passed
through numerous European countries".
This corresponds with the SNP report published on 18th January 2006
which details between 40 and 50 intelligence flights through Scottish
airports, including the dates, locations and registration numbers.
Speaking after the Council of Europe announcement SNP Foreign Affairs
spokesman Angus Robertson MP said:
"The Council of Europe is our continent's most important human rights
watchdog and they believe that European governments almost certainly
knew about secret American prisoner flights.
"This conclusion is based on evidence including a report published by
the SNP about intelligence flights through Scottish airports.
"All of this adds pressure for on the UK government for openness on the
subject. We know from the leaked Whitehall memo that Ministers have been
instructed to avoid the details of this issue.
"This is a serious issue about our standing in the world and the UK
government and Scottish Executive need to end the culture of secrecy.
ENDS
Welcome for new SWA Chairman
Posted on Monday, January 23 2006
There has been a warm welcome for the new Chairman of the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) Richard Burrows after his appointment by the main industry body.
Mr Burrows of Pernot Ricard takes over from Ian Good who is retiring from the top SWA post after five years in post.
Angus Robertson MP whose Moray constituency contains more than half of Scotland’s malt whisky distilleries welcomed the appointment and paid tribute to the work of outgoing chairman Ian Good:
“The whisky industry is an essential part of Scotland’s economy and the SWA plays a key role in representing the sector.
“Richard Burrows brings valuable experience to the job as its new chairman and I wish him well. He will be joined as his deputy by Paul Walsh of Diageo. This is an impressive team and hopefully they and their SWA colleagues will help the whisky industry from strength to strength.
“Over recent years the SWA has been ably led by Ian Good of the Edrington Group. There have been some very real challenges with issues such as the designation of whiskies, the imposition of strip stamps and mushrooming red tape. I pay tribute to all of his hard work.
ENDS
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