Bulgaria to Accept up to 2 Guantanamo Prisoners

In this photo, reviewed by the U.S. military, flags hang above the sign marking the Camp Justice compound, the site of the U.S. war crimes tribunal, at Guantanamo Bay U.S. Naval Base, Cuba. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Bulgaria will most probably accept one or two detainees from the US prison camp at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, responding positively to Washington request to house prisoners.

“The final decision will be taken by an intergovernmental working group with representatives from all institutions involved,” Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov said after the joint meeting of the foreign policy and interior security parliamentary commissions on Wednesday.

The minister stressed that a positive response to the US request is natural, given the strong strategic partnership between the two countries.

Guantanamo prisoners will enjoy a humanitarian status in Bulgaria, which means they will not be put behind bars, but will be treated as refugees.

Bulgaria's prime minister said last week that the country could accept one prisoner from Guantanamo following calls from Washington to take in detainees from the US prison in Cuba. Boyko Borisov told reporters that taking in an inmate would be a strong gesture of cooperation between Europe and the US.

Bulgarian officials however have cautioned that Bulgaria's participation would be small, and people who might pose a threat to national security would be not accepted.

The transfer of prisoners is part of a drive by US President Barack Obama to close the widely criticized jail set up by his predecessor, George Bush, to house suspected militants captured abroad.

Obama had promised to shut down the facility within a year of taking office but, because of diplomatic and political obstacles, there are still more than 200 inmates who need to be relocated.

Earlier this month, the French Foreign Ministry said two detainees at Guantanamo were sent to France and to Hungary. Overall, however, the international response to US requests for inmate hosting has been muted.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!