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Three Guantanamo Prisoners Escorted to Slovakia
Monday 25 January 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, January 25 (TASR) - Three detainees from the U.S. detainment facility Guantanamo Bay in Cuba were escorted to Slovakia early Monday morning, spokesman for the Police Corps Presidium Martin Korch told TASR later in the day.
Contrary to popular wisdom, Korch said that these three were not in the convoy that went to the refugee camp in Humenne (Presov region) on Sunday. "The convoy was part of cover measures aimed at ensuring their smooth transfer," said Korch.
He added that police won't provide any further information concerning the three prisoners.
The Slovak Government's decision to accept three prisoners from Guantanamo Bay was announced by Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak on January 19.
He added that Slovakia made this decision based on individual choice. "In this way, Slovakia is committing itself to the EU and U.S. bilateral proclamation on co-operation vis-a-vis the closure of Guantanamo that was made on June 19, 2009," said Lajcak, adding that Slovakia is thus expressing its support for U.S. President Barack Obama, who has introduced a new atmosphere into international relations.
Lajcak said that Slovaks can feel safe as the Government has a programme for dealing with the prisoners in question that involves supervised released. "These aren't criminals. They have never been charged and they haven't faced criminal prosecution. There's no reason for Slovak citizens to think that their security will be compromised," he assured.
The three detainees from Guantanamo whom Slovakia has pledged to take in represent no immediate threat to its citizens, said U.S. charge d'affairs to Slovakia Keith Eddins at a news conference on January 19. The detainees the Americans are looking to resettle in third countries do not fall into high-risk category, he added.
Eddins reiterated that "the three detainees coming to Slovakia were in Guantanamo but have been judged to no longer pose a threat." He added that the men are not facing prosecution and are not subject to any kind of further proceedings ... but at the same time we weren't in a position to release them to their home country. We needed to find some place for them to go. And that's when the Slovak Government stepped forward and offered to provide assistance to an ally, to offer them a place to resettle."
The U.S. Government asked EU-member states to find a place for people justifiably released from the Guantanamo Bay detention centre. These are prisoners for whom there is no reason to initiate a criminal prosecution but who can't return to their home countries for serious reasons. At the same, the men have expressed an interest in finding a new permanent residence in EU countries.
The U.S. administration asked the EU for help in placing the prisoners after US President Barack Obama announced his plans to close down the notorious prison in March 2009.
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