United States Transfers Guantanamo Bay Detainees To Spain and Albania

These transfers were carried out under an individual arrangement between the United States and the Government of Albania. The United States coordinated with the Government of Albania to ensure the transfers took place under appropriate security measures and consultations regarding these individuals will continue.

The United States is grateful to the Governments of Albania and Spain for its willingness to support U.S. efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.

As directed by the President’s January 22, 2009 Executive Order, the interagency Guantanamo Review Task Force conducted a comprehensive review of these cases. As a result of that review, which examined a number of factors, including security issues, the detainees were approved for transfer by unanimous consent among all the agencies involved in the Task Force.

In accordance with Congressionally-mandated reporting requirements, the Administration informed Congress of its intent to transfer the detainee at least 15 days before his transfer.

Since 2002, more than 580 detainees have departed Guantanamo Bay for other destinations, including Albania, Algeria, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Belgium, Bermuda, Chad, Denmark, Egypt, France, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Pakistan, Palau, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Somalia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom and Yemen.

Today, 188 detainees remain at Guantanamo Bay.


United States Transfers Guantanamo Bay Detainees To Spain and Albania By Bill Goldston

		February 25, 2010 - The Department of Justice announced that several detainees from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba have been transferred to Spain and Albania on Wednesday. The identity of the individual transferred to Spain is being withheld for security and privacy reasons at the request of the Government of Spain. This transfer was carried out under an individual arrangement between the United States and the Government of Spain. The United States coordinated with the Government of Spain to ensure the transfer took place under appropriate security measures and consultations regarding this individual will continue. Earlier on Wednesday, Saleh Bin Hadi Asasi, a native of Tunisia, Sharif Fati Ali al Mishad, a native of Egypt, and Abdul Rauf Omar Mohammad Abu al Qusin, a native of Libya, were transferred to the Government of Albania.

These transfers were carried out under an individual arrangement between the United States and the Government of Albania. The United States coordinated with the Government of Albania to ensure the transfers took place under appropriate security measures and consultations regarding these individuals will continue. The United States is grateful to the Governments of Albania and Spain for its willingness to support U.S. efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. As directed by the President’s January 22, 2009 Executive Order, the interagency Guantanamo Review Task Force conducted a comprehensive review of these cases. As a result of that review, which examined a number of factors, including security issues, the detainees were approved for transfer by unanimous consent among all the agencies involved in the Task Force. In accordance with Congressionally-mandated reporting requirements, the Administration informed Congress of its intent to transfer the detainee at least 15 days before his transfer. Since 2002, more than 580 detainees have departed Guantanamo Bay for other destinations, including Albania, Algeria, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Belgium, Bermuda, Chad, Denmark, Egypt, France, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Pakistan, Palau, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Somalia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom and Yemen. Today, 188 detainees remain at Guantanamo Bay.