SLOVAKIA accepted another two inmates from the US military base at Guantanamo Bay on November 20, this time nationals of Tunisia and Yemen, increasing the total number of them to eight, the TASR newswire learnt from Interior Ministry spokesman Peter Lazarov on November 21.
“As was the case with the first transfers, these are people who have never been suspected or convicted of terrorism and don’t constitute any security risk to Slovakia,” said Lazarov, as quoted by TASR. “This is taking place as the continuation of an agreement made with the USA in 2009.”
The two former Guantanamo inmates will take part in an integration programme through which they should become integrated into Slovak society over a period of three years.
“Their human rights will be upheld,” said Lazarov, as quoted by TASR. “We won’t comment on their whereabouts for security and tactical reasons,” added the spokesman.
U.S. State Department envoy Clifford Sloan praised Slovakia for accepting two inmates.
“We are very grateful to our partners for these generous humanitarian gestures,” Sloan said, as quoted by the private broadcaster Rádio Expres. “We appreciate the strong support we are receiving from our friends and allies around the globe.”
Slovakia joined the initiative of a number of countries including some belonging to NATO and the EU by accepting three former inmates as early as in 2010. The country received another three people formerly imprisoned at the detention centre in 2013, according to TASR.
Source: TASR, Rádio Expres
Compiled by Roman Cuprik from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
