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BEIRUT: President Michel Sleiman vowed to continue investigations into the fate of seven kidnapped Estonian nationals following a meeting with Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet Tuesday in Beirut.
Paet, visiting Lebanon for the second time since the cyclists were abducted near Zahle last month, said he thought all relevant authorities were taking the case “very seriously” and had not eased the pace of investigation.
“[All authorities] said very clearly that the case was a top priority for Lebanon,” Paet told reporters in Beirut after meeting Sleiman, Interior Minister Ziyad Baroud and EU ambassadors and Foreign Ministry representatives.
However, no new evidence appears to have surfaced about the fate of the Estonians who, it is feared, may have been smuggled to Syria. A previously unknown group Haraket al-Nahda Wal-Islah (Movement for Renewal and Reform), have claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.
“We don’t have any new information and I don’t know where they are, whether they are in Lebanon or outside,” said Paet, while denying earlier media reports that he had received phone calls from one of the Estonians.
“It is important for me that the Lebanese authorities persevere and work seriously on this case in order to find out who is responsible … and why they did it. And more important … is that the Estonians go home,” he added.
Paet also expressed his condolences for the death of a police officer killed on April 11 in Majdal Anjar during a raid on kidnapping suspects.
Eleven arrests were made following the abduction, fueling hopes vital clues would be uncovered.
Foreign Ministry acting director general William Habib said that the ministry was cooperating with the relevant countries and was seeking “complete coordination with all friendly states.”
“This issue is on our minds and we are very upset about what happened and we want to reach a quick solution to free the Estonians and ensure their safe return,” said Habib following a meeting with Paet. “We are certain that in the end we will find the kidnapped safe and punish those responsible for this criminal act.”
Paet, visiting Lebanon for the second time since the cyclists were abducted near Zahle last month, said he thought all relevant authorities were taking the case “very seriously” and had not eased the pace of investigation.
“[All authorities] said very clearly that the case was a top priority for Lebanon,” Paet told reporters in Beirut after meeting Sleiman, Interior Minister Ziyad Baroud and EU ambassadors and Foreign Ministry representatives.
However, no new evidence appears to have surfaced about the fate of the Estonians who, it is feared, may have been smuggled to Syria. A previously unknown group Haraket al-Nahda Wal-Islah (Movement for Renewal and Reform), have claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.
“We don’t have any new information and I don’t know where they are, whether they are in Lebanon or outside,” said Paet, while denying earlier media reports that he had received phone calls from one of the Estonians.
“It is important for me that the Lebanese authorities persevere and work seriously on this case in order to find out who is responsible … and why they did it. And more important … is that the Estonians go home,” he added.
Paet also expressed his condolences for the death of a police officer killed on April 11 in Majdal Anjar during a raid on kidnapping suspects.
Eleven arrests were made following the abduction, fueling hopes vital clues would be uncovered.
Foreign Ministry acting director general William Habib said that the ministry was cooperating with the relevant countries and was seeking “complete coordination with all friendly states.”
“This issue is on our minds and we are very upset about what happened and we want to reach a quick solution to free the Estonians and ensure their safe return,” said Habib following a meeting with Paet. “We are certain that in the end we will find the kidnapped safe and punish those responsible for this criminal act.”
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