LUXEMBOURG: COURTESY CALLS WITH FOREIGN MINISTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LUXEMBOURG 000327

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE VALERIE BELON, S/CG MICHAEL WILLIAMS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR LU
SUBJECT: LUXEMBOURG: COURTESY CALLS WITH FOREIGN MINISTER
ASSELBORN AND PRIME MINISTER JUNCKER - STATUS OF SUPPORT
FOR GUANTANAMO DETAINEE ISSUE

REF: LUXEMBOUNG 302

Classified By: Charge d'affaires Mark Biedlingmaier, reasons 1.4(b)(d)


1. (C) Charge d'affaires used the occasion of farewell
courtesy calls with Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn and Prime
Minister Jean-Claude Juncker to express appreciation for the
offers of financial support from the Government of Luxembourg
to assist with the transfer, administrative/logistical costs,
and technical retaining of Guantanamo detainees held in a
third country. As reported reftel, PM Juncker also hinted at
a possible increase in funding for this effort from the GOL
in fiscal year 2010. On the margins of UNGA, Albanian Prime
Minister Sali Berisha declined an invitation for his country
to serve as a resettlement point for 2-3 detainees.
Management of this issue with host-government officials will
transfer to incoming Charge d'affaires Trevor Evans upon the
departure of CDA Biedlingmaier on November 15.


2. (C) Following are for-the-record texts of letters
exchanged between FM Asselborn and Special Envoy Dan Fried
following their working dinner in Luxembourg on September 17.


3. (C) FM Asselborn Letter to Ambassador Fried, dated October
12, 2009

BEGIN TEXT:

Dear Jean,

Thank you for your letter dated September 29th referring to
the closure of the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility.

Allow me, first of all, to reiterate our readiness to
contribute to finding solutions enabling President Obama to
close this facility. While it may, indeed, prove difficult to
resettle detainees directly in my country, I am in a
position, however to guarantee our help and to consider
favourably your request to use the Findel airport as a
facility allowing the voluntary transfer of detainees from
Guantanamo to their ultimate destinations.

I would suggest that a small team of designated
representatives get in tough to discuss all the specifics
required to allow for such an undertaking. On my side the
Secretary General, Monsieur Paul Duhr and the Political
Director, Monsieur Georges Friden will be in charge of this
dossier. They will be at your disposal. All questions of a
principal nature will continue to be dealt with directly by
me.

Permit me to conclude by expressing my deepest appreciation
for seeking our partnership in this difficult issue, an
expression of mutual trust and friendship.

Best regards, Jean Asselborn

END TEXT.


4. (C) Ambassador Fried Letter to FM Asselborn, dated
September 29, 2009

BEGIN TEXT:

Dear Mr. Minister:

As you know, the closure of the Guantanamo Bay Detention
Facility is a top priority for President Obama. The European
Union and many of its Member States have stepped forward to
join in this important endeavor, recognizing that the United
States requires the help of its friends to resettle former
detainees in order to close the facility. We understand that
Luxembourg may not be in a position to resettle any
detainees, but we do see an important way in which your
government can help as we continue to transfer former
detainees out of Guantanamo.

The United States is currently seeking to coordinate with its
European partners on the transit of former detainees we are
resettling in European countries or repatriating to their
home countries where they will be released. This is an
extremely important aspect of our movements of detainees out
of Guantanamo and, I believe, it is an area in which
Luxembourg can provide much needed assistance to the United
States. Accordingly, please consider this a formal request
for your government to consider allowing U.S. military
aircraft to transit Luxembourg-Findel airport with former
detainees on-board to re-fuel, change air crews, and as

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necessary, pre-position secondary aircraft to facilitate the
voluntary transfer of these men to their ultimate
destinations. We would of course inform your government and
remain in close consultation on the specifics of any flights
that transit your territory. The United States, including
members of the U.S. Department of Defense, stand prepared to
discuss the specifics of this request further with you and
your designated representatives.

Your partnership and consideration of these requests is most
appreciated and will signal in deeds a "turning of the page"
in our transatlantic relationship.

Sincerely, Dan Fried

END TEXT.

BIEDLINGMAIER