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| US envoy confident on Guantanamo closure | |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| The man officially responsible for closing Guantanamo Bay says more detainees could be resettled worldwide if some were transferred to the US. | The man officially responsible for closing Guantanamo Bay says more detainees could be resettled worldwide if some were transferred to the US. |
| Daniel Fried is the special envoy for closing the detention centre and is in charge of persuading other countries to take in detainees. | Daniel Fried is the special envoy for closing the detention centre and is in charge of persuading other countries to take in detainees. |
| He says his job is miserable because he is "cleaning up a problem". | He says his job is miserable because he is "cleaning up a problem". |
| He also revealed he was reprimanded by the UK over his decision to send four detainees to Bermuda. | He also revealed he was reprimanded by the UK over his decision to send four detainees to Bermuda. |
| Daniel Fried has one of the most important and toughest tasks in the US government. | Daniel Fried has one of the most important and toughest tasks in the US government. |
| In an exclusive first interview since his appointment, Mr Fried told the BBC about the challenges the US government faces. | In an exclusive first interview since his appointment, Mr Fried told the BBC about the challenges the US government faces. |
| 'Huge problem' | 'Huge problem' |
| Ordering the closure of the detention camps at Guantanamo was one of US President Barack Obama's first acts in office. | Ordering the closure of the detention camps at Guantanamo was one of US President Barack Obama's first acts in office. |
| I've been admonished by the British government in very clear terms Daniel Fried on the Bermuda deal | I've been admonished by the British government in very clear terms Daniel Fried on the Bermuda deal |
| Saying it would send "an unmistakable signal", he said the facility had to close by 22 January 2010. However, predictably, it is proving to be difficult. | Saying it would send "an unmistakable signal", he said the facility had to close by 22 January 2010. However, predictably, it is proving to be difficult. |
| Working out what to do with the remaining detainees is "a huge problem and a complicated one," says Mr Fried. | Working out what to do with the remaining detainees is "a huge problem and a complicated one," says Mr Fried. |
| So far, the number being held there has been reduced by just 16 - and one of those committed suicide. There are now 226 left. | So far, the number being held there has been reduced by just 16 - and one of those committed suicide. There are now 226 left. |
| The administration is reviewing each detainee's case in order to decide which prisoners should be prosecuted, and which should be freed and transferred to another country. | The administration is reviewing each detainee's case in order to decide which prisoners should be prosecuted, and which should be freed and transferred to another country. |
| Ambassador Fried is dealing with those who are "cleared for release" by a special task force or by the courts. | Ambassador Fried is dealing with those who are "cleared for release" by a special task force or by the courts. |
| Hungary is the latest country which has agreed to take a detainee. Other nations which have already done so or have pledged to help include France, Portugal, Spain, Italy and Belgium. | Hungary is the latest country which has agreed to take a detainee. Other nations which have already done so or have pledged to help include France, Portugal, Spain, Italy and Belgium. |
| One of Mr Fried's successes was the deal he struck with Bermuda, which took four Guantanamo prisoners, all of them Chinese Uighurs - an ethnic minority from north-west China. However, Bermuda is a British overseas territory and Britain was not informed until the last minute. | One of Mr Fried's successes was the deal he struck with Bermuda, which took four Guantanamo prisoners, all of them Chinese Uighurs - an ethnic minority from north-west China. However, Bermuda is a British overseas territory and Britain was not informed until the last minute. |
| "The British government, it is fair to say, cannot be considered part of the deal," Mr Fried says. | "The British government, it is fair to say, cannot be considered part of the deal," Mr Fried says. |
| "This was worked out between the Americans and the Bermudans. I will say that I've been admonished by the British government in very clear terms." | "This was worked out between the Americans and the Bermudans. I will say that I've been admonished by the British government in very clear terms." |
| 'No Plan Bs' | 'No Plan Bs' |
| However, he defended the agreement with Bermuda. | However, he defended the agreement with Bermuda. |
| "We are very grateful to the Bermudan government and the behaviour of the four Uighurs has been exemplary, which really bolsters our contention that they were not any kind of threat." | "We are very grateful to the Bermudan government and the behaviour of the four Uighurs has been exemplary, which really bolsters our contention that they were not any kind of threat." |
| "These are four people who are enjoying freedom who would otherwise be in Guantanamo." | "These are four people who are enjoying freedom who would otherwise be in Guantanamo." |
| Mr Fried's tough job has not been helped by the decision of Congress to block the transfer of any cleared detainees from Guantanamo to the US mainland. | Mr Fried's tough job has not been helped by the decision of Congress to block the transfer of any cleared detainees from Guantanamo to the US mainland. |
| He says he will not criticise Congress, but told me: "It is fair to say, as just an objective statement, that the US could resettle more detainees [worldwide], had we been willing to take in some." | He says he will not criticise Congress, but told me: "It is fair to say, as just an objective statement, that the US could resettle more detainees [worldwide], had we been willing to take in some." |
| "But I also have to state that parliamentarians in Europe and the US have raised questions about security - and we have to respect those opinions." | "But I also have to state that parliamentarians in Europe and the US have raised questions about security - and we have to respect those opinions." |
| Mr Fried said he was confident - but would not guarantee - that the 22 January deadline would be met. | Mr Fried said he was confident - but would not guarantee - that the 22 January deadline would be met. |
| "President Obama's timetable is what we've got, we don't have Plan Bs, we're looking at that timetable. We've got a lot of work to do, we need help getting this done, and we're going to be working hard at it." | "President Obama's timetable is what we've got, we don't have Plan Bs, we're looking at that timetable. We've got a lot of work to do, we need help getting this done, and we're going to be working hard at it." |
| "But you're not going to have Guantanamo II. Whatever solution we come up with, it will be one based firmly on the rule of law and transparency." | "But you're not going to have Guantanamo II. Whatever solution we come up with, it will be one based firmly on the rule of law and transparency." |
| Update: The headline was changed on 18 September. An earlier headline did not accurately reflect the interviewee's statements. |