Brussels, 10/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - Franco Frattini, Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security, recently pointed out that he hoped to see the United States ensure the security of Ayaan Hirsi Ali, former Somali-born Dutch politician, who has received death threats for her outspoken criticism of Islam. In October 2007, The Hague decided to stop paying Ms Hirsi Ali's security bills since her decision in 2006 to go and live in the United States. Washington has refused to take responsibility for Ms Hirsi Ali's safety on the grounds that she is a Dutch citizen who came under threat because of her work in the Netherlands. “The best option would be to have a bilateral agreement with the US”, the Commissioner said in an interview published on 6 March on Radio Netherlands Worldwide. “As far as I know, we in Europe guarantee the same level of protection that is appropriate for all high-level officials and normal people who are under protection in the US”, Mr Frattini added. In this context, the Commissioner said he would tackle the matter in Slovenia on Thursday 13 March during his meeting with the US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. Despite the campaign launched by the European Parliament on raising European funds for protecting the former Dutch politician, Mr Frattini said it was still too early to speak of such financing for Ms Hirsi Ali's protection. In his view, the thing that is absolutely necessary is to offer the same level of protection in all member states for persons in the same situation as Ms Hirsi Ali. Mr Frattini pointed to the fact that offering protection also means paying for that protection. He said it would be up to France to pay Ms Hirsi Ali's security bill if it wanted her to go and live there. (B.C.)