Other events in Baltic States

Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius pointed out he never accused the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of using "soviet" methods. These charges related only to describe the operation of the Lithuanian State Security Department (VSD) in the context of a CIA prison, informs ELTA/LETA.

Prime minister noted that the claims by the American daily newspaper "The New York Times" that he accused CIA of using "soviet" methods, do not reflect the reality. It is true that when he spoke about the VSD in the context of establishing CIA detention centers and that such activities possibly violate the laws regulating intelligence and financial accounting, Kubilius mentioned the "soviet" methods.

Prime Minister regretted that what actually was a translation error by the "The New York Times," has been escalated by Lithuanian media, although local journalists and publishers heard the prime minister's evaluations in Lithuanian.

As ELTA announced earlier, Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius said the conclusions of the NSGK parliamentary investigation were posing serious concern and highlighted that they reflected the need to reform the State Security Department. The head of the Government also stressed that friendship with the United States was not a reason to breach the law.

Although there is no strong evidence whether the prison was eventually used for the purpose it was intended to be used or not, the prime minister believed, that the very existence of its infrastructure posed serious concern.

"The very fact that the infrastructure was established proves that a small group of VSD officials could have taken the decision to establish the detention centre behind the back of the public, and maybe, the heads of the state. What causes even more concern, is the fact that the decision was taken by several officials and was being implemented in violation of the law and ignoring the negative consequences to the international reputation of Lithuania," said Kubilius.

According to Kubilius, the culture of avoiding control and violating the laws prevailed in VSD; the VSD almost became a "state within a state", that engaged in power games and distanced from the true interests of the state.

The prime minister regretted that the VSD did not implement the first NSGK conclusions of the investigation and expressed hope that the second investigation on the CIA prison would help to reform the VSD and restore public trust into this important institution. Andrius Kubilius is convinced that it is the executive power that should formulate tasks for the special services, and the Parliament should effectively monitor the implementation of those tasks.