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Netherlands considering accepting Guantanamo detainees

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said Tuesday that the Netherlands would be willing to consider accepting Guantanamo Bay detainees, despite earlier statements to the contrary. Meeting with US President Barack Obama in Washington, DC, Balkenende said that his country might accept transferred detainees if it would help to close the detention facility. The Netherlands had initially denied US requests that other countries consider accepting detainees who could be returned to their home country, saying that the primary responsibility rested with the US. Balkenende had signaled a potential shift in the policy in an interview with Radio Netherlands Worldwide earlier this month. Last month, Council of Europe (COE) Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg urged all member states to welcome certain released Guantanamo Bay detainees. A week earlier, the Council of the European Union agreed, which set forth the terms of accepting detainees in a way that would minimize any danger posed to other member states. In March, US officials met with leaders from the EU to discuss plans to transfer detainees to European countries. Many countries have indicated their openness to accepting detainees, including Tunisia, Lithuania, Ireland, and Portugal. Other states have expressed reservations about accepting detainees, including Poland and Spain.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on July 15, 2009 (boomark / email).