Namik Tan: Turkey Hasn't Taken Part in Any Stage of Secret CIA Activities

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey yesterday denied any involvement in alleged CIA secret activities after the Council of Europe (CoE) concluded last week that 14 European nations colluded with U.S. intelligence in a "spider's web" of human rights abuses to help the CIA spirit terror suspects to illegal detention facilities. "Turkey hasn't and won't take part in any stage of secret CIA activities," Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Namik Tan said at a weekly press conference.



Tan made the remarks in a response to an Amnesty International statement on Wednesday which accused seven European countries, including Turkey, of aiding U.S. abductions of terror suspects. " Accusations by Amnesty International, other institutions or people, shouldn't be taken seriously," Tan added. Asked whether Incirlik Air Base in Adana could be used for alleged transportation of detainees by CIA secret flights without the Turkish authorities being informed, Tan ruled out such a possibility, saying, "Incirlik is a Turkish Armed Force [TSK] base. Our officials are aware of everything that goes on at the base." Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul also previously denied allegations of detainees being interrogated on secret CIA flight at Sabiha Gokcen Airport in Istanbul, accusing such groundless claims of being aimed at opening a debate on the sovereignty of the Turkish Republic, reported ABHaber news agency.



Turkey yesterday denied any involvement in alleged CIA secret activities after the Council of Europe (CoE) concluded last week that 14 European nations colluded with U.S. intelligence in a "spider's web" of human rights abuses to help the CIA spirit terror suspects to illegal detention facilities. "Turkey hasn't and won't take part in any stage of secret CIA activities," Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Namik Tan said at a weekly press conference.



Tan made the remarks in a response to an Amnesty International statement on Wednesday which accused seven European countries, including Turkey, of aiding U.S. abductions of terror suspects. " Accusations by Amnesty International, other institutions or people, shouldn't be taken seriously," Tan added. Asked whether Incirlik Air Base in Adana could be used for alleged transportation of detainees by CIA secret flights without the Turkish authorities being informed, Tan ruled out such a possibility, saying, "Incirlik is a Turkish Armed Force [TSK] base. Our officials are aware of everything that goes on at the base." Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul also previously denied allegations of detainees being interrogated on secret CIA flight at Sabiha Gokcen Airport in Istanbul, accusing such groundless claims of being aimed at opening a debate on the sovereignty of the Turkish Republic, reported ABHaber news agency.