Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BRUSSELS1213
2009-09-04 14:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:  

BELGIUM DECIDES TO TAKE ONE GUANTANAMO DETAINEE

Tags:  PREL PTER BE 
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VZCZCXRO9011
OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR
DE RUEHBS #1213 2471432
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 041432Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9418
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001213 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE AND S/GCI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2019
TAGS: PREL PTER BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM DECIDES TO TAKE ONE GUANTANAMO DETAINEE

Classified By: Acting Political Economic Counselor Robert Kiene, reason
1.4(b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001213

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE AND S/GCI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2019
TAGS: PREL PTER BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM DECIDES TO TAKE ONE GUANTANAMO DETAINEE

Classified By: Acting Political Economic Counselor Robert Kiene, reason
1.4(b) and (d).


1. (U) The Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on
September 4 that Belgium "has accepted the request of the
United States to resettle an ex-detainee from Guantanamo."
The detainee, who was not named, is to receive an entry visa
and resident status with the right to a work permit. Before
his arrival in Belgium, measures are to be established to be
permit his integration into Belgium. The MFA also stated
that the detainee is no longer a subject of criminal
prosecution, following a decision of the U.S. courts.


2. (C) Although the detainee was not named publicly, it is
the individual who was recently interviewed by a delegation
of Belgian officials in Guantanamo, Abdul Rahim Al-Janko.
Poloff spoke with Marc Van Den Reeck, Deputy Chief of Staff
to Foreign Minister Yves Leterme on September 4. Van Den
Reeck confirmed the Ministry's public statement, adding that
the Cabinet took its decision on the recommendation of
Minister Leterme. The actual transfer of Al-Janko will have
to wait until the government can create the proper framework
of social assistance and services he will need in Belgium,
Van Den Reeck said. The government intends to work quickly
on this.


3. (C) The next step for the USG, according to Van Den Reeck,
is to give the MFA a clear idea of what the identification
paper accompanying Al-Janko will look like. The paper should
include a set of fingerprints, Van Den Reeck said.


4. (C) Post will now encourage the GOB to establish the
framework of social assistance mentioned by Van Den Reeck as
quickly as possible to allow a prompt transfer of Al-Janko.
We will also continue to explore, in close coordination with
S/GCI, the possibility of Belgian acceptance of other
detainees, including two individuals who have reportedly been
convicted of crimes in absentia in Belgium. The Belgians
stress that consideration of these two individuals be pursued
through judicial channels and not as part of the detainee
resettlement process.
.