European Commission Vice President Jacques Barrot, responsible for Freedom, Justice and Security, issued the following statement on Guantanamo:
"I strongly welcome that one of the first actions taken by President Obama has been to turn the page on the sad episode of the Guantanamo prison. As European Commissioner for Justice, this is a strong symbol for me. I have confidence in the United States and light will now be rapidly shed on the situation of prisoners at Guantanamo. These persons must be subject to a lawful and just process to finally establish the true nature of their actions. Of course, the fight against terrorism must remain a major priority for the United States and Europe. We must be united in this fight, but always in the absolute respect of human rights. To establish contact with the new American administration, I plan to visit the United States in the near future."
