U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has assuaged the concerns of NATO and the EU on Wednesday night after recent reports of secret CIA flights in European airspace (Xinhua photo)

BRUSSELS, Dec. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has assuaged the concerns of NATO and the EU on Wednesday night after recent reports of secret CIA flights in European airspace, the local newspaper De Tijd reported on Thursday.

    Belgian Foreign Minister Karel de Gucht was quoted by the newspaper as saying that Rice clarified certain issues and that both NATO and EU ministers appeared satisfied with her explanations.

    Rice met her 31 EU and NATO colleagues during an informal dinner meeting at the Egmont Palace in Brussels.

    She did not go into details about secret CIA activities abroad,but de Gucht stressed that Rice outlined a coherent explanation of the principles the Unite States applies to its anti-terror activities.

    The U.S. secretary of state assured her colleagues that Washington respects international law and never sanctions torture.Rice also said the sovereignty of other countries is always honored.

    Additionally, Rice said the United States abides by the rules of the Geneva Convention, protecting prisoners of war when dealingwith arrested al-Qaida terror suspects.

    De Gucht asked Rice whether the United States has the intention to bring arrested terror suspects before a court of law. Rice answered yes, but also said it was neither a simple nor a speedy process.

    International media have in recent weeks reported about the CIA use of European airspace and airports to take terror suspects to countries where torture is possible.

    Some newspapers have even reported about the alleged existence of secret CIA prison camps in Central and East Europe.

    The issue has sparked heated debate within Europe. Enditem