Brussels, 22/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 22 January, shortly after the announcement of measures taken by the new US president, Barack Hussein Obama, concerning the closure of Guantanamo prison in one year's time, the leader of the Socialist Group at the European Parliament, Martin Schulz of Germany, called on EU governments to take in the inmates of the detention camp. “The Obama administration has started on the right foot by announcing the closure within a year of this outrageous detention camp”, Mr Schulz said. “EU governments must now play their part and support President Obama's decision by accepting inmates”, he said. Kathalijne Buitenweg (Greens, NL) also calls on the EU to come to the assistance of the US administration, saying: “Europe must support the process to close Guantanamo”. She went on: “I call on all EU foreign ministers to act quickly, decisively and responsibly on this issue”. In particular, she called for Europe to come to the assistance of those, like the Muslims of China (Uyghurs), who cannot return to their countries of origin where they could face torture. Several human rights organisations (Amnesty International, the Centre for Constitutional Rights, Human Rights Watch, the International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (FIDH) and Reprieve) wrote to ministers on Thursday calling on them to provide humanitarian protection to 60 prisoners who could be persecuted if they returned to their home country. The idea of taking in the inmates of the Guantanamo camp was relaunched in early December by Portuguese Foreign Minister Luis Amado, who said his country was willing to do so. France has pronounced itself in favour of taking inmates in “on a case by case basis” and the governments of Ireland and Spain are ready to study the matter. Others, however, like Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands, have categorically refused to do so, and Germany remains divided on the subject. The Commission has refused to take position saying the question is “up to member states” (EUROPE 9823). The matter will be tackled on Monday 26 January by EU foreign ministers during a meeting in Brussels. In addition to the fact that they will be pleased with the announced closure of the detention camp, ministers are expected to point out that the EU does not plan to “take the part” of the United States for settling the matter but that it “could possibly help the US”, one diplomat said. Given that closure of the prison will not be immediate, ministers should also give themselves sufficient time for reflection on how and in what conditions the EU may provide aid, he added. Ministers are finally expected to point out that, although coordination is possible at EU level, it is up to each member state to determine the conditions for possibly taking in detainees from Guantanamo. (B.C./transl.jl)