GUANTANAMO DETAINEES -- SUGGESTIONS FOR A SPECIAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000945 SIPDIS NOFORN E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2018 TAGS: KDRG PHUM PTER OSCE PREL MOPS PINS BE SUBJECT: GUANTANAMO DETAINEES -- SUGGESTIONS FOR A SPECIAL STATUS THROUGH IOM FOR THOSE RELEASED REF: 07 BRUSSELS 2401 Classified By: DCM WJBUSH FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (C/NOFORN) Belgian Senator and OSCE Parliamentary Representative on Guantanamo Anne-Marie Lizin engaged in an open and frank discussion June 12 with Ambassador Fox on her trip to Guantanamo Detention Facility and what to do about the remaining detainees there. She provided an advance copy of the report she will present to the OSCE in July in Kazhakstan (sent to EUR/WE via email). Senator Lizin again proposed, as she had in her 2007 report (reftel),that an international organization, expressly the International Organization for Migration (IOM),should be tasked with developing a solution for repatriating the detainees. Specifically she thought the IOM could process the detainees, whose home countries would not repatriate them, as stateless persons and issue international passports for them. They would not be considered as refugees, but as a category of persons with special status to make it easier for other countries to accept them and respect their rights. ¶2. (C/NOFORN) While admitting some of the detainees could still pose different levels of threats, in general Lizin recommends accelerating the transfer of those detainees who will not be formally charged. To that effect, she would like to see the IOM start as soon as possible on a plan to create the special status and make the transition for those released as smooth as possible. Attempting to return detainees to countries that will not accept them has stalled the process, though Lizin noted 120 had been sent back to their countries of origin since the 2007 report. Having only limited success in persuading other governments to take back any of the remaining internees, Lizin continued to stress the need for the IOM to be fully involved to find a quick and humane solution. .