Berlin - Germany will run its own checks on Guantanamo Bay
prisoners who have been proposed for release and resettlement in
Europe, German government officials said in Berlin Monday.
They said Washington had identified candidates for release from
the camp on the Cuban coast to several European governments, but
declined to say how many names were on the list, saying there was an
agreement with the United States to keep this confidential.
After high-level debate in Germany about whether to accept any of
the released inmates, government departments and the 16 states are to
examine the data to establish whether any of the released men pose
any threat.
'Germany has to make its own assessment,' foreign ministry
spokesman Jens Ploetner told reporters in Berlin.
An interior ministry spokesman added, 'Every decision is concerned
with the individual case.'
Asked if Germany might accept someone but limit their movements,
the interior spokesman said: 'We live in a free country. If innocent
people are given a home here, then they will live here at liberty,
and that is the end of the matter.'
Of the prisoners at the US military camp for enemy combatants,
reportedly 50, including Uighur militants from China, cannot be sent
to their homelands because of the danger they may be tortured.
The German news magazine Der Spiegel reported Saturday up to 10
non-dangerous captives were being considered for release in Europe.
Spiegel said Washington's main official dealing with the
Guantanamo issue, Dan Fried, handed over the list in Berlin last
week.
Last week US Attorney General Eric Holder said in Berlin that
Washington hoped to release 30 Guantanamo inmates soon and was
confident that European allies would participate in giving them
homes.
USA
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