"We assured MEPs that our pre-trial investigation was thorough, all-round, carried out objectively and that no information on alleged illegal detention of people in Lithuania was found during it, and it was found that no such people were kept in detention," Deputy Prosecutor General Darius Raulušaitis told journalists.
The MEPs' visit to the Prosecutor General's Office marks the start of a three-day visit during which they plan to investigate reports that a secret American prison for suspected terrorists might have been set up in the country.
Following a parliamentary investigation in late 2009, Lithuanian prosecutors opened an investigation but terminated the probe last January, with prosecutor Mindaugas Dūda saying that there was no sufficient evidence to claim that premises in Vilnius and near the city had been equipped for detention of prisoners.
"Pursuant to Lithuanian laws, any pre-trial investigation can be resumed, if new and significant evidence for that investigation is received. If that evidence is found, sooner or later, such an investigation, of course, might be resumed," the deputy prosecutor general said.
According to Raulušaitis, members of the EP's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs presented their own investigation and report and were also interested in investigations carried out in Lithuania.
Spain 's former Minister of Justice and head of the delegation, Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar, said the delegation would provide more comments after finishing the three-day visit.
"It is the first round of the talks we are about to have for the next 48 hours. After having completed the visit, there will be an official report on the side of the European Parliament delegation," he said.
A delegation from the European Parliament is visiting Lithuania to investigate reports that a secret American prison for suspected terrorists might have been set up in the country.
The European Parliament held hearings in late March on the EU member states' participation in the CIA's secret detention and rendition program which was launched after the 9/11 attacks.
Earlier in April, the Parliament adopted a resolution calling for full investigation into alleged CIA prisons. The Parliament expressed regret over some European Union countries' failure to fully investigate allegations concerning their support for the US Central Intelligence Agency's illegal transportation and imprisonment of suspected terrorists.
Lithuania launched an investigation into CIA prison allegations in the country following reports by US TV channel ABC News in 2009 about a secret CIA prison situated in Antaviliai area near Vilnius. The secret parliamentary probe carried out in Lithuania showed that CIA-related planes entered Lithuania's airspace in 2003-2006 several times. The investigations failed, however, to identify if any suspected terrorists were actually brought to Lithuania.
Following the parliamentary investigation, Lithuanian prosecutors opened an investigation but terminated the probe last January, with prosecutor Mindaugas Dūda saying that there was no sufficient evidence to claim that premises in Vilnius and near the city had been equipped for detention of prisoners.
Former heads of Lithuania's secret services have ruled out presence of any CIA prison in Lithuania.
