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Bulgaria to consider accepting Guantanamo detainee

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov agreed Saturday to consider accepting one Guantanamo Bay detainee after a request from the Obama administration, though the Bulgarian Parliament would make the final decision. Borisov stated that Bulgaria will be supported by its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies for its decision but does not expect something in return from the US. The Bulgarian media claims that it received a letter written by US special envoy Daniel Fried to Borisov, asking Bulgaria to accept Guantanamo prisoners. Fried is reported to have already discussed the transfer with Bulgarian Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov. Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg has previously called upon European states to open their doors to Guantanamo prisoners. Earlier this month Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha told reporters that closing Guantanamo is "human rights issue" when expressing his willingness to accept more detainees. In November, four Guantanamo detainees were transferred to three European countries, as the detainee population at the detention facility continues to be reduced. Two Tunisian natives were transferred to Italy where they will stand trial. The other detainees include an unidentified Palestinian man transferred to Hungary and an Algerian who was transferred to France. In September, Belgium accepted a detainee for resettlement after sending a delegation to Guantanamo to interview the candidate.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on December 13, 2009 (boomark / email).