| The Daily Star |
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BEIRUT: The seven Estonians kidnapped in Lebanon three months ago are still alive, Tallinn’s foreign minister said Tuesday after holding talks with senior officials in Beirut.
“On the basis of analyses and pieces of information [we] have gotten, we can say that our people are alive,” Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet told The Daily Star. “We can be satisfied completely with this investigation only when the seven Estonian citizens are back home.”
Paet, who undertook his third visit to Lebanon since the seven men were snatched from their bicycles by armed assailants on the outskirts of Zahle on Mar. 23, also voiced his country’s willingness to talk with those responsible.
“I would like to urge [the kidnappers] to release the seven Estonian citizens,” he said. “If they want to communicate then all communication channels are open … with the goal of solving this issue.”
Paet met with President Michel Sleiman, Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Army Commander Jean Kahwagi, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel and Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour in the first talks concerning the abduction with new government representatives.
He described talks with Lebanese officials as positive and warned that the ongoing detention of his countrymen could damage Lebanon.
“I am here again to meet with new members of the government who have responsibility in this case. They told me that solving this issue is very important to Lebanon because there is a link to tourism, to the economy and to the image of the country,” Paet said.
“Their statements were very clear that this is a real issue for the new government that needs to be solved because there was the same understanding: this will harm Lebanon.”The location of the kidnapped seven remains unknown, in spite of more than 10 arrests by security services of individuals believed to be linked to their abduction. Paet admitted that he did not know in what country the tourists were being held, and said that his ministry expected Lebanese officials to work with their Syrian counterparts in a bid to locate the perpetrators.
“I hope, with international cooperation, the positive solution will be there. Of course, cooperation with other countries here in the region is important, including Syrian authorities. I am sure that the politicians of Lebanon will have contact with their counterparts in Syria and encourage them as much they can to help,” he said.
Paet added, however, that his requests to visit Syrian officials in Damascus had not been granted.
“I don’t have any proof [where the men are being held]. But looking at the area where it happened and looking at the different versions where they may be … there are certain areas where Syrian assistance can make a difference. If Syrians can assist, then of course I hope that they do,” he said.
Last week it emerged that two Dutch diplomats were briefly abducted in the Bekaa Valley late May. The pair were subsequently released and Paet said it was unlikely their case was linked to the Estonians.
He added that the two kidnappings were making many Europeans think twice before visiting Lebanon.
“We can read different European foreign ministers’ web pages about suggestions and warnings [on Lebanon]. It has also been on the web page of the Estonian foreign minister,” Paet said. “Lebanon is a relatively small country, and it is very easy for European tourists to make some conclusions. If there are parts of the country on the ‘not to go to’ list, then it is easier not to go at all.
“I hope very much that this will be solved because in one way or another it will influence the Lebanese economy and the image of the country.”
In the three months since the men’s disappearance, two videos of the group have been posted online, helping keep the tourists’ plight in the news. Paet vowed he would not let the issue of the kidnapped Estonians disappear from global attention.
“I will do everything [to ensure] it stays in the international agenda,” he said.
“On the basis of analyses and pieces of information [we] have gotten, we can say that our people are alive,” Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet told The Daily Star. “We can be satisfied completely with this investigation only when the seven Estonian citizens are back home.”
Paet, who undertook his third visit to Lebanon since the seven men were snatched from their bicycles by armed assailants on the outskirts of Zahle on Mar. 23, also voiced his country’s willingness to talk with those responsible.
“I would like to urge [the kidnappers] to release the seven Estonian citizens,” he said. “If they want to communicate then all communication channels are open … with the goal of solving this issue.”
Paet met with President Michel Sleiman, Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Army Commander Jean Kahwagi, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel and Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour in the first talks concerning the abduction with new government representatives.
He described talks with Lebanese officials as positive and warned that the ongoing detention of his countrymen could damage Lebanon.
“I am here again to meet with new members of the government who have responsibility in this case. They told me that solving this issue is very important to Lebanon because there is a link to tourism, to the economy and to the image of the country,” Paet said.
“Their statements were very clear that this is a real issue for the new government that needs to be solved because there was the same understanding: this will harm Lebanon.”The location of the kidnapped seven remains unknown, in spite of more than 10 arrests by security services of individuals believed to be linked to their abduction. Paet admitted that he did not know in what country the tourists were being held, and said that his ministry expected Lebanese officials to work with their Syrian counterparts in a bid to locate the perpetrators.
“I hope, with international cooperation, the positive solution will be there. Of course, cooperation with other countries here in the region is important, including Syrian authorities. I am sure that the politicians of Lebanon will have contact with their counterparts in Syria and encourage them as much they can to help,” he said.
Paet added, however, that his requests to visit Syrian officials in Damascus had not been granted.
“I don’t have any proof [where the men are being held]. But looking at the area where it happened and looking at the different versions where they may be … there are certain areas where Syrian assistance can make a difference. If Syrians can assist, then of course I hope that they do,” he said.
Last week it emerged that two Dutch diplomats were briefly abducted in the Bekaa Valley late May. The pair were subsequently released and Paet said it was unlikely their case was linked to the Estonians.
He added that the two kidnappings were making many Europeans think twice before visiting Lebanon.
“We can read different European foreign ministers’ web pages about suggestions and warnings [on Lebanon]. It has also been on the web page of the Estonian foreign minister,” Paet said. “Lebanon is a relatively small country, and it is very easy for European tourists to make some conclusions. If there are parts of the country on the ‘not to go to’ list, then it is easier not to go at all.
“I hope very much that this will be solved because in one way or another it will influence the Lebanese economy and the image of the country.”
In the three months since the men’s disappearance, two videos of the group have been posted online, helping keep the tourists’ plight in the news. Paet vowed he would not let the issue of the kidnapped Estonians disappear from global attention.
“I will do everything [to ensure] it stays in the international agenda,” he said.
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