Transfer of French Detainees Complete
July 27, 2004

The Department of Defense announced today that it transferred four detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to the control of the government of France. These detainees are French nationals.

The decision to transfer or release a detainee is based on many factors, including whether the detainee is of further intelligence value to the United States and whether he is believed to pose a threat to the United States if released.

There are ongoing processes to review the status of detainees. A determination about the continued detention or transfer of a detainee is based on the best information and evidence available at the time. The circumstances in which detainees are apprehended can be ambiguous, and many of them are highly skilled in concealing the truth. The process of evaluation and detention is not free of risk at least five detainees have gone back to the fight.

During the course of the war on terrorism, the department expects that there will be other transfers or releases of detainees. This transfer was not part of the recently announced Combatant Status Review Tribunal; it was coordinated prior to that announcement.

Because of operational and security considerations, no further details can be provided.

Previously, 129 detainees were transferred for release and 18 others were transferred to the control of other governments (seven to Russia, four to Saudi Arabia, one to Spain, one to Sweden and five to Great Britain). 151 detainees have now departed Guantanamo. As a result of todays transfer, there are now approximately 590 detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.