Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov agreed [Standart] Saturday to consider accepting one Guantanamo Bay detainee after a request from the Obama administration. However, the Bulgarian Parliament would make the final decision on the US request. Borisov stated that Bulgaria will be supported by its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and EU allies for its decision and that Bulgaria should not fear of possible terrorist attacks. The Prime Minister said that he does not expect something in return from the US. The Bulgarian media claims that it received a letter [Mediapool report, in Bulgarian] written by US special envoy Daniel Fried to Borisov, asking Bulgaria to accept Guantanamo prisoners no more than three (unofficial information). Fried is reported to have already discussed the transfer with Bulgarian Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov.
Later, the Interior Minister said that Bulgaria will accept one but no more than two detainees with a statute of refugee not of a prisoner. Bulgaria will choose the nationality of the detainee and it will not be a Chinese because of the condition of China European countries to not accept Chinese. According to the Interior Minister the responsibility for the final decision will be on the government and the Parliament will make only declaration on the point. In practice, an intergovernmental group will consider the issue of accepting a Guantanamo detainee. It will take some time but it is almost sure that the decision will be positive.
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg has previously called upon European states to open their doors to Guantanamo prisoners. Ireland, France, Italy, Hungary and Belgium accepted detainees. Germany already has accepted 800 Iraqis. Only Norway refused to accept detainees.
Sources: Jurist, Standart, Mediapool, the Sofia Echo
