BELGIUM DECIDES TO TAKE ONE GUANTANAMO DETAINEE

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. .