VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTL #0223/01 2151401
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 031403Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY TALLINN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0054
INFO RUEHTL/AMEMBASSY TALLINN

C O N F I D E N T I A L TALLINN 000223 
 
SIPDIS 
S/GC FOR DANIEL FRIED AND MICHAEL WILLIAMS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/08/03 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDRG EN
SUBJECT: Estonia Likely to Accept Gitmo Detainee(s) 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Karen Decker, CDA; REASON: 1.4(B), (D) 
 
Classified by CDA Karen Decker for reasons 1.4 B & D. 
 
 
 
¶1. (C) Summary and Comment: In a meeting with the Estonian Foreign 
Minister Paet on July 29 in Tallinn, Special Envoy for Guantanamo 
Closure, Ambassador Daniel Fried, requested the Estonian government 
consider receiving detainees currently held at Guantanamo, who the 
U.S. government cannot return to their country of origin because of 
post-transfer treatment concerns, for resettlement in Estonia.  The 
FM noted the GOE's willingness to help pending the resolution of 
several questions and further internal discussion.  In a meeting 
the next day, President Ilves reinforced the GOE's willingness to 
help.  (In the two days after the meeting the GOE moved quickly to 
begin staffing this request and looking into sending a delegation 
to Guantanamo to interview detainees.  The Cabinet is currently 
scheduled to make a decision on 1 September.  Given the fact that a 
majority of Estonian officials are on leave during August, the GOE 
is moving expeditiously.  Post believes that Estonia will agree to 
accept at least one, and possibly two, detainees for resettlement.) 
End summary and comment. 
 
 
 
¶2. (C) Special Envoy for Guantanamo Closure, Ambassador Daniel 
Fried, met with FM Urmas Paet in Tallinn July 29 to discuss the 
GOE's willingness to resettle one or more Guantanamo detainees in 
Estonia.  Also present at the meeting were MFA Secretary General 
Marten Kokk, Political Director Clyde Kull, MFA Security Policy 
Director Paul Teesalu, and desk officer Anneli Poolakese.  Charge 
Karen Decker accompanied on the American side.  During the meeting 
Fried passed over the files of three detainees for the GOE to 
review and consider.  Paet explained that Estonia would like to 
help and is ready to discuss accepting a specific "person or 
persons."  However, he had several questions.  Paet asked about 
Estonia's responsibility to keep any detainee within Estonia, 
particularly given Estonia's membership in the Schengen zone.  Paet 
stressed that any detainee must want to come live in Estonia.  He 
further asked what USG interest would remain in these detainees 
after their resettlement, and lastly stated that Estonia could not 
accept anyone whose nationality would cause political problems for 
Estonia.  For that reason Estonia would not be ready to accept any 
Uighurs. 
 
 
 
¶3. (C) In response, Fried suggested the GOE discuss the Schengen 
situation with France and Portugal specifically, as France had 
already resettled one detainee in May and Portugal is making 
preparations to receive two detainees in the near future.  Both 
countries have or are taking steps to prohibit the resettled 
detainees from traveling abroad immediately.  The USG does not 
expect Estonia to close its borders, Fried stressed, but would 
prefer the detainee be kept in-country.  Fried also explained that 
any resettlement would be voluntary, and any detainee the GOE 
agrees to receive would have to agree to live in Estonia.  Fried 
explained that an Estonian delegation is welcome to travel to 
Guantanamo from Washington, DC to interview detainees it is 
considering before the making a final decision.   Additionally, 
Fried outlined the USG's assistance in the resettlement process, 
specifically in providing up to $85,000 per detainee for actual 
costs incurred by the GOE for the resettled detainee's housing and 
living expenses.  Fried also noted that the UNHCR was willing to 
provide a statement of support to the GOE if it would help in its 
decision-making process.  As to U.S. interest post-transfer, Fried 
stated that there would be no legal interest (e.g., prosecution), 
but that the USG would appreciate the GOE security services keeping 
in touch through liaison channels on measures they take in regard 
to the detainee(s). 
 
 
 
¶4. (C) Paet mentioned hostility from China towards countries 
accepting Uighurs, and asked if any other countries had reacted in 
a similar fashion.  Fried said that to date, only China and Tunisia 
have actively tried to discourage countries from accepting their 
citizens. 
 
 
 
¶5. (C) Concluding the meeting, Paet told Fried he would brief the 
Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. Ultimately, a decision by 
the full Cabinet would need to be taken (now scheduled for 
September 1).   At that point the GOE may want to start talking to 
the press to create public acceptance. 
 
¶6. (C) In a separate meeting on July 30, President Ilves told Fried 
that he had spoken with Paet, and that the GOE is willing to help 
the USG by receiving Guantanamo detainees.  Ilves cautioned, 
however, that the  matter still needed to go before the Cabinet. 
[Comment: The President holds little real power, but as a senior 
member of the opposition and a popular public figure his support 
will make Estonian agreement to accept one or more detainees much 
more likely.  End comment.]  Ilves also asked how membership in 
Schengen affects resettling detainees.  He added that Estonia is 
close to passing legislation allowing law enforcement to use 
radio-emitting ankle bracelets to track convicted criminals, as an 
alternative to prison, and wondered if this would be possible for 
the detainees.  Fried said that such arrangements are up to the 
host country, as once a detainee is transferred, he becomes subject 
to the receiving government's laws.  Fried also explained that the 
GOE, as was done by the French in receiving a Guantanamo detainee 
in May, might look into issuing a national visa as opposed to a 
Schengen visa for detainees it receives.  Therefore, if a detainee 
attempted to travel outside of Estonia, he would subject himself to 
possible prosecution under Estonian law. 
 
 
 
¶7. (C) COMMENT:  On July 31, MFA Political Director Kull told CDA 
that the MFA had passed the three case files to the MOI for review. 
While the MFA was ready to bring this request before the Cabinet in 
August, MOI requested a month to evaluate the security situation 
regarding these detainees.  Therefore, the GOE is scheduled to 
bring this question before the Cabinet for decision on 1 September. 
Prior to that date, the GOE intends to send a delegation to 
Guantanamo to interview potential cases.  Post is working with the 
GOE and S/GC on logistics. 
 
 
 
¶8. (U) This cable has been cleared by Ambassador Fried's office. 
DECKER