COUNCIL OF EUROPE CONFIRMS SNP RENDITION CONCERNS
Posted on Wednesday, June 7 2006
LIBDEMS CAN ACT NOW TO INVESTIGATE FLIGHTSSNP Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Angus Robertson MP, has welcomed a high level European report published today (Wednesday) which confirms and recognises concerns raised by the SNP regarding rendition flights.The report by Swiss MP Dick Marty - on behalf Council of Europe - which is very critical of the involvement of the UK and other European governments in the illegal transportation of prisoners, contains evidence submitted by the Scottish National Party and already highlighted in his preliminaryreport.Speaking after the publication of Mr Marty's conclusions, the Scottish National Party's Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Angus Robertson MP commented:"This report is highly embarrassing for the UK government and confirms the concerns highlighted by the SNP and others about rendition flights."The UK government now needs to face up to its responsibilities instead of ducking them with denials that frankly nobody believes anymore. Tony Blair's sad shirking of responsibility during Prime Minister's Questions today is only the latest episode in this embarrassing charade."Responsibility also lies with the Liberal Democrat Transport Minister in the Scottish Executive to show leadership and principle which has been sadly lacking up until now. So it is a bit rich for the Liberal Democratleader to call for action when it already lies in his party’s hands."The Scottish Executive should now confirm what safeguards it has in place and assurances it has received so that no illegal rendition flights transit through Scottish airports."Notes:Council of Europe report, para 28 on UK and SNP report:http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=/CommitteeDocs/2006/20060124_Jdoc032006_E.htmBackground:On 18th January the SNP published a report by an aviation expert detailing between 40 and 50 intelligence flights through Scottish airports, including the dates, locations and registration numbers.The report lists 10 firms which allegedly operate as CIA shell companies and details the plane type, registration numbers and dates which they landed at Prestwick, Glasgow and Edinburgh airports. Among the planes a Gulfstream jet (Registration number N379P/N8068V) nicknamed the "Guantanamo Bay Express" and reportedly used to transport suspects to the US prison on Cuba. That plane is listed in the report as having landed five times at Glasgow and Prestwick airports between 2002 and the end of 2004.The report also list details about a DC 9 airliner (Registration number N822US) which has been the subject of diplomatic inquiries by the Norwegian government and debate in the Canadian Parliament. The plane is listed in the report as having landed at both Glasgow and Prestwickairports in 2002 and 2003.ENDS
ROBERTSON TO LEAD SNP'S 'WIN 2007' CAMPAIGN
Posted on Sunday, June 4 2006
MORAY MP APPOINTED HEAD OF PARTY'S SCOTTISH ELECTION CAMPAIGNSNP Leader Alex Salmond MP today (Sunday) announced that the SNP's 2007 Election Campaign will be headed by Angus Robertson MP. Angus' appointment comes after he successfully headed the Moray by-election campaign that saw the SNP's biggest ever majority with the Labour vote halved and the Tories and Lib Dems at a standstill. The announcement was made to SNP Candidates for the forthcoming election at a meeting in Perth.Speaking at the meeting, SNP Leader Alex Salmond said:"The election next year is a two horse race between the SNP and Labour."There is growing evidence from both Scottish by-election results and polling results that there is strong support for both an SNP led Government and Scottish Independence, and so I believe that we are currently neck and neck with Labour with only eleven months to polling."We aim to capitalise on this momentum to win the additional twenty first-past-the-post seats we need to secure victory for the SNP, and Angus Robertson has the skills and experience to do just that. Angus has played a key role for the SNP as Defence and Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, and was instrumental to our stunning success in the Moray by-election."Angus' winning track record is just what the SNP needs to secure victory next year."In his speech to SNP candidates in Perth, Angus Robertson MP said:"I am delighted to be given this opportunity to lead the SNP's campaign in the run up to the 2007 election."All the available evidence shows that the SNP are the only party capable of beating the Labour Party at the polls next year, and my job is to work with the party to ensure that this happens."Scots will have a straight choice between a better future under an SNP Government led by Alex Salmond or more of the same with Jack McConnell's complacent Labour Party."The SNP enter this fight from an increasingly strong position. We have the best electoral record in Scotland in the past year, winning local and parliamentary by-elections up and down Scotland, often against strong campaigns in traditional Labour heartlands such as Glasgow, Fife andMidlothian. Given that we are second to Labour in 36 of their 40 first-past-the-post seats, we are the only party that can break their stranglehold on Scotland's central belt and emerge from the election as Scotland's largest party."The SNP are also equipped with the best known leadership team in Scottish politics, and people know that they will be better off with the SNP because of our strong, principled Scottish polices designed to make a difference to their lives. Scots know we stand for Independence, for a fair alternative to Council Tax, and against unneeded and unwanted nuclear power."With this momentum behind us, I'm confident that Scots will vote for a better life in Scotland's Independent future under Alex Salmond's SNP."Ends.
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