Guantanamo inmates

Bulgaria is in talks with the United States to host some of the inmates from Guantanamo Bay, the country's interior minister said on Saturday.

Tsvetan Tsvetanov confirmed his country was considering a request from the Obama administration for an arrangement to host former detainees.

The government in Sofia had received a letter addressed to Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, Tsvetanov said in a national radio interview

"We have not taken a decision yet," he said. "In any case, Bulgaria's participation would be small and we would not accept people who might pose a threat to our national security."

The issue was due to be discussed before parliament, he added.

Gesture of soldarity

Bulgarian Prime Minister Borisov said he thinks taking an inmate would be a strong gesture of cooperation between Europe and the United States.

"There is European and NATO solidarity. Just like we seek support for everything from our Euro-Atlantic partners, President Obama is now seeking this from all of us," Borisov told reporters. "My personal opinion is that we should accept one person."

His center-right administration, which replaced its socialist predecessor in July, is conscious of the Balkan country's image that was marred by the previous government's failure to tame corruption and crime.

Ongoing effort to close prison

The United States embassy in Sofia confirmed to AFP late Friday that: "US special envoy for Guantanamo closure, Daniel Fried, visited Bulgaria from December 2-3 and met with Bulgarian officials."

"While we do not comment on our bilateral discussions with foreign governments, we are encouraged by the continued willingness of many of our close friends and allies to consider resettling detainees and help our effort to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility," it added in a statement.

The US continues to seek out potential hosts for former Guantanamo inmates as part of President Barack Obama's initiative to shut down the controversial detention camp.

Obama had promised to shut down the facility within a year of taking office but, because of diplomatic and political obstacles, there are still more than 200 inmates who need to be relocated.

Earlier this month, the French Foreign Ministry said two detainees at Guantanamo were sent to France and to Hungary. Overall, however, the international response to US requests for inmate hosting has been muted.

sjt/dpa/AFP/Reuters
Editor: Sonia Phalnikar