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Audrey Carville: Earlier I spoke to Luxembourg’s Foreign minister Jean Asselborn. Would they be willing to take in any of the men?
Jean Asselborn: That’s not the question. I think the question today is, in the first round, are we able to create a European framework to speak with the Americans? Then, every country has to decide, what to do.
Audrey Carville: So, your government doesn’t yet have a position?
Jean Asselborn: No. We cannot have a position. No government has a position. Not even Germany, not even France, not even Italy, not even Spain. No government has a position. And, you know, it’s up to the Americans. They have the responsibility to close Guantànamo. It’s up to them to do it. We don’t have to help the Americans, politically speaking. But Guantànamo is a phenomenon which stands, in my personal view, for the violation of human rights, and also violation of international law. But there is also a human level. And on this human level, you know that there are more than 50 people who have been living there for year and years, without being charged. And that’s the problem. So, on the political level it’s up to the United States to solve the problem, and it’s up to us as Europeans, who have human rights as a priority in our agenda, to work with the United States to solve this problem.
Audrey Carville: And if that means, some countries taking in some of these men, is that something you would support?
Jean Asselborn: Yes. No country in the European Union refused today to establish this European framework, but some countries, but only a few countries, said, we are not able to take people from Guantànamo. Others, and most of them, said, if we really see that we can give a new chance to these people, to be reintegrated and to start a new life, we will do it.
Audrey Carville: But the biggest concern that other EU-leaders have is that some of these men may be very dangerous and, once in their country, may start to plot and plan attacks, whether in Europe or in the United States. Is that a concern that you share?
Jean Asselborn: Madame, we have to be very, very clear. The Americans told us that these 50 people are not dangerous, because they have not been charged. If they are not dangerous and if they are in jail, they have been in Guantànamo for years and years, they have the right to get a new chance. That’s very important to say, on a human level. We don’t speak about people who are dangerous. Regarding those people, that’s up to the Americans to take their responsibilities.
Audrey Carville: Which European countries are refusing at this stage to take any of the men?
Jean Asselborn: I think it’s only one country – I will not name it – that said, we have to change our law to accept people form Guantànamo. No other country said at this stage of the discussion that they will refuse categorically to help.
Audrey Carville: Is it the Dutch you are referring to?
Jean Asselborn: You know, the European Union is a very complex entity, and some of our meetings and some of our discussions are in a closed room. So, please, I can tell you that it’s not the Dutch.
Audrey Carville: That was Luxembourg’s Foreign minister Jean Asselborn.
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