FINLAND: RESPONSE TO GUANTANAMO RESETTLEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 000250

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

S/WCI FOR SAM MUBANGO AND CATHY HARMS
EUR/PGI FOR ALAIN NORMAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/04/2017
TAGS: KAWC PREL PTER PHUM PINR FI
SUBJECT: FINLAND: RESPONSE TO GUANTANAMO RESETTLEMENT
REQUEST

REF: A. SECSTATE 37005


B. MUBANGU-THOME EMAIL 25 MARCH 2007

Classified By: POLOFF DAVID SCHLAEFER FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (U) This is an Action Request; please see paragraph

6.


2. (C) Poloff spoke with Finnish officials in the MFA's
Political Secretariat and Office for Human Rights about the
possibility of resettling Guantanamo detainees in Finland.
Finland has previously rejected several US requests to
resettle detainees, including twice rejecting the
resettlement in Finland of Uighers. The GoF's previous
rejections were explained by legal and policy guidelines
requiring any refugee resettlement request to be made via
a formal UNHCR referral; in the absence of an official
UNHCR referral, the GoF would not consider the case.
Although a theoretical mechanism exists for extraordinary
referrals, it has never been used and no precedent exists.
There was also a palpable lack of enthusiasm among GoF
officials for resettling Guantanamo detainees inside
Finland.


3. (C) Finland might reconsider its position in light of
recent developments. Johanna Suurpaa, the MFA's Director
for Human Rights, said that the GoF was encouraged by
recent statements by senior American officials that the USG
wished to close Guantanamo as soon as possible. She
pointed to Secretary Gates' remarks as having been
particularly well received by Finnish FM Tuomioja. Suurpaa
said that the GoF had long urged the US to close
Guantanamo, and now that US policy was moving in this
direction, an opportunity might exist for Finland to use
its "extraordinary referral" mechanism (absent an UNHCR
request) for the first time. However, problems still
existed regarding the suitability of many nationalities for
resettlement in Finland given the country's relatively
small, homogeneous population and unique Nordic climate;
for example, Finnish officials were skeptical that the
Uighers could be integrated successfully into Finnish
society.


4. (C) Poloff acknowledged the difficulties some groups
might have in Finland, but urged the Finns to take a close
look at the detainees, especially the Somali detainee
Muhamed Hussein Abdullah. Finland has a Somali immigrant
and refugee population of approximately 8000. Many of the
Somalis have been in Finland since the late 1990s and have
developed strong support networks. Abdullah might find
ready support from Finland's Somali community, and Finnish
social services are already geared toward provision of
services to Somali-speaking refugees. Poloff also noted
that after years of criticizing US policy on Guantanamo, it
seemed inconsistent for Finland to shut the door on
detainee resettlement as the US actively looked for ways to
reduce and eventually eliminate the detainee population.


5. (C) The Finns agreed to sound out senior officials on
the possibility of admitting detainees (most probably
Abdullah) to Finland. One complicating factor is that
Finland had a general election in March and the new
government will not be formed until mid-late April. Absent
an UNHCR request, any decision to admit a refugee needs to
be approved by Parliament and the Foreign Minister, with at
least the acquiescence of the Prime Minister. Suurpaa was
unsure if FM Tuomioja--who will only be FM for a few more
weeks--would want to take up the issue in his last days in
office. If not, the issue will have to wait until the new
cabinet is in place.


6. (C) Action Request: The identifying information on
Muhamed Hussein Abdullah in Ref B does not contain any
information as to why he was detained; it gives his
employment and academic history and then notes, without
explanation, that he was detained in Peshawar in 2002.
Finnish officials would like the following information on
Abdullah to facilitate their decision-making:

-- Why was Abdullah detained? Why is he now considered
safe for release?

-- Will Abdullah's wife and/or any of his 11 children also
seek resettlement at the same time?

-- Should Finland consider the request, can Finnish
officials visit and interview Abdullah before deciding to
accept him?

Upon receipt, post will pass the answers to these questions
to the MFA and monitor ongoing Finnish deliberations about
the resettlement issue.
WARE