Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They
AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e
BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German
Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who
By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Search
Search:
Europe cautious on resettling Guantanamo detainees
AFP - Thursday, December 25
PARIS (AFP) - - Europe reacted cautiously Wednesday to the idea of resettling terror suspects released from Guantanamo Bay, with some countries seeking a concerted European approach and others already opposed to the idea.
The Netherlands went furthest, ruling out accepting any newly freed inmates, despite broad European support for US president elect Barack Obama's promise to shut down the notorious military detention centre.
"If they are not to be tried but cannot return to their own countries, it is first and foremost the responsibility of the country which arrested and imprisoned them, the United States," a Dutch foreign ministry spokesman said.
"The Netherlands will not take in Guantanamo inmates."
Portugal and Germany previously signalled they might accept detainees, but France was cautious, welcoming the camp's imminent closure, but calling for a common European position.
"We think consultation between Europeans should continue because we think it is natural that our response should be discussed and coordinated between Europeans," French foreign ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier told AFP.
Germany had previously made a similar announcement.
"In our view Guantanamo must be closed on legal and humanitarian grounds, in terms of international law and human rights, and for moral reasons," German government spokesman Thomas Steg said Monday.
"If we begin to review such closure plans and take a stance, then it can only be in a European context based on a discussion with all member states."
Obama has promised to close the detention facility -- part of a sovereign US naval base on Cuba -- after taking office next month, raising the question of what to do with the remaining 250 inmates.
Some of the prisoners, alleged "enemy combattants" captured since 2001 by US and allied forces around the world during the so-called War on Terror, are no longer considered a threat by US authorities and will be resettled.
The prisoners come from various countries, mostly in the Middle East, and some may want to go home. Others face renewed arrest in their homelands and could face torture or lengthy incarcerations.
Britain has taken charge of nine detainees who are British nationals and four British residents, and said Wednesday it would consider any more US requests on a case by case basis.
On Tuesday, Washington welcomed signals from Germany and Portugal that they might help, raising the possibility that other European allies might provide asylum for former detainees.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Tuesday reports Europe might accept inmates were "quite encouraging" and marked "a new attitude" from allies who rejected similar requests by President George W. Bush.
He named Germany and Portugal, whose foreign minister, Luis Amado, called on his European Union counterparts this month to help the United States close Guantanamo by taking in detainees from third countries.
"Portugal and Foreign Minister Luis Amado should be praised for what they have done in, sort of, blazing a trail for a new European attitude in this regard," McCormack said.
Nevertheless, aside from Portugal, Europe appears cool on the idea.
"For Sweden, the United States has the responsibility for their prisoners," Swedish foreign ministry spokeswoman Miriam Mannbro said.
Media reports suggest Denmark will refuse any US request, and Poland and Spain were dubious.
"... We haven't the experience to deal with this kind of prisoners," Polish foreign ministry spokesman Piotr Paszkowski told AFP.
France holds the European Union's rotating presidency, but will hand the torch to the Czech Republic next week. Officials indicated no joint decision on Guantanamo detainees would be taken beforehand.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: World
3 injured in Stockholm casino shootingAP - 31 minutes ago
Guinea coup leader, troops parade through capitalAP - 48 minutes ago
5 injured in suburban Sacramento home explosionAP - 56 minutes ago
Dow rises 48.99 points in light holiday tradingAP - 57 minutes ago
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,217AP - 1 hour 23 minutes ago
Enlarge Photo
The US flag flies over a razorwire fence in Guantanamo Bay. Europe reacted cautiously Wednesday to the idea of resettling terror suspects released from Guantanamo Bay, with some countries seeking a concerted European approach and others already opposed to the idea.
Most Popular – World
Viewed
US sees no holiday cheer; Russia, China warn of grim 2009
Housing market feels more pain, bottom not yet in sight
French investor takes life after massive losses in Madoff scandal
Quake zone hero pig named China's animal of the year
Actress Jennifer Aniston appears naked in GQ magazine
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular