The CIA moves european headoffice to Bern in Switzerland

The CIA moves european headoffice to Bern in Switzerland

By Christof Moser, Marcel Odermatt and Johannes von Dohnányi | 02:15 | 21.09.2008

SonntagsBlick searches show: The American Embassy in Berne will become a European headquarters of the U.S. secret service CIA expanded. The Council of Europe’s special investigators and the National FDP Dick Marty considers this "very problematic".

The U.S. Embassy in Sulgen eckstrasse-19 in Berne: a high security wing. Who wants to enter the building, may not carry bags, and even cell phones are prohibited. And because the Americans at the entrance does not have set up luggage storage, they revive the local industry: For two desperate visitors can francs of the U.S. Embassy their seven things in a nearby bakery zwischenlagern.

The rigid access regime, the darkened windows and the meter-high fence is intended not only security but also the secrecy: The message is like any U.S. diplomatic mission, a CIA base. GLIMPSE than in September 2006, a CIA spy unmasked, the journalists found out that he officially in the Bernese U.S. embassy as "Second Secretary for Political Affairs" has worked.

Now show SonntagsBlick searches that the American intelligence operations in Switzerland, wants to expand. The U.S. Embassy in Berne is a coordination center for the CIA liaison offices in mainland Europe are. Confirm the well-informed circles.

Officially, the expansion will not comment - neither the embassy nor the State Department in the Federal Police. Even the spokesman of the Foreign Ministry DFA wants "at the moment no comment".

Berne is for the Schlapphüte from America always been an important place. This was after the Second World War Europe headquarters of the CIA’s predecessor organization OSS. And in the so-called "Club of Berne ’meet for years spies from all over the world to share information. Even the Swiss secret services can benefit from it: "Without these contacts," says an employee of the Swiss intelligence service SND, "we would aufgeschmissen."

Previously, the CIA activities in Europe in Stuttgart (GER) from coordinates. There is the headquarters of the U.S. Armed Forces in Europe (EUCOM). The disappearance of prisoners to Guantanamo was organized in Stuttgart. After the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001, the CIA sought to be close to the military. Now discover the American spies apparently the advantages of Switzerland again. "For the CIA is the discretion of the local financial center, an important argument for the move," says an intelligence insider.

In the’80s took advantage of the U.S. Secret Service has already proved this benefit once the upgrading of the Afghan Mujahideen for their war against the Red Army, the CIA financed largely through Switzerland.

Confronted with the Sunday sight-FDP research says National Dick Marty (63), a special investigator of the Council of Europe the transport of CIA prisoners in Europe are examined: "I’ve heard of these plans include moving. Apparently the CIA estimates the pleasant conditions in our country. "The Swiss authorities would the U.S. Secret Service almost blind trust, says Marty. If Berne now hub for secret information will bring the whole of Switzerland into the twilight: "I think this is very problematic."

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