Clear no to hosting Guantanamo inmates

Justice and Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici made it clear yesterday that Malta would be unable to accept any of the Guantanamo detainees, even if the US made an official request.

"Malta already has a lot of problems with receiving foreign citizens and we don't really need any added burdens at this stage," he said following a meeting of the EU's Justice and Home Affairs Council where the issue was raised.

Although some member states, like France and the UK, are actively considering helping the US close down the controversial Guantanamo Bay prison, the EU Presidency made it clear that no member state would be obliged to take any of them. "The decision rests entirely with the countries concerned."

The Guantanamo Bay detention camp was opened by the US in its base in Cuba in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. People suspected to be terrorists acting against the interests of the US are held there.

The opening of the the facility proved to be one of the most controversial decisions of the Bush Administration, especially after repeated claims of torture and mistreatment of inmates emerged over the years. One of the decisions of the new President, Barack Obama, was to announce the closure of the camp.

The EU will be sending a high-powered mission to the US to hold talks over the issue and try to find out more about the White House plans.

Home Affairs Ministers agreed yesterday the US would have to respond to a number of questions before a decision could be made on accepting prisoners from Guantanamo.

"No decision was taken during the Council meeting. We agree there has to be a coordinated approach. But everything will depend on the information we receive from Washington," Czech Home Affairs Minister Ivan Langer said.

Mr Langer will travel to Washington with Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot in mid-March.

Mr Barrot said many questions had to be asked of the Americans: "How guilty are the detainees? If they are innocent, why does the US not keep them? Why can the detainees not return to their home countries? Is it because of possible persecution? If a member state accepts detainees, will the Americans provide that state with money?"

According to the Commission, the phase of seeking and receiving information from the US on the issue could last months.

Some countries were concerned for their security, Mr Langer said, referring to the lack of border controls in the Schengen Area. He said the final decision would be in the hands of member states.

The issue has also provoked a political controversy in Malta. During an EP vote, the three Labour MEPs - Louis Grech, John Attard Montalto and Glenn Bedingfield - joined the majority of MEPs, particularly from the Socialist and Green groups, to call on all member states to be prepared to share the burden with the US and accept to host Guantanamo inmates after the camp's closure.

On the other hand, Nationalist MEPs Simon Busuttil and David Casa opposed this part of the resolution and instead supported an amendment saying that the US should refrain from applying pressure on member states to take inmates against their will.

Amid accusations by the Nationalist Party that Labour wanted Malta to host "terrorists" on the island, Mr Grech denied that his delegation had made a gaffe, saying the resolution was unrelated to Malta.