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President Ilves: Estonia with its allies will do everything within our power to find and free the Estonian citizens who were kidnapped in Lebanon and bring them back home

30.03.2011

President Toomas Hendrik Ilves met in Kadriorg today with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Urmas Paet, who is also the Head of the Intra-Institutional Crisis Committee, which was established after seven Estonian citizens were kidnapped in Lebanon a week ago.

The Head of State was given an overview of the most recent steps that Estonia – in co-operation with its international partners – has taken to resolve the situation.

According to President Ilves, Estonia is aware of the support and assistance that many countries have offered to resolve the hostage crisis, by exercising political influence or collecting important information.

President Ilves expressed his support to the next of kin of the Estonian hostages and asked the public to respect their wish for privacy and not to cause them any additional sufferings by following the desire to publish some hot news stories.

“I do assure you: the Republic of Estonia with its allies will do everything within our power to find and release the Estonian citizens who were kidnapped in Lebanon and bring them back home,” the Head of State emphasised.

President Ilves considers the public assumptions in regard to the possible motives behind taking the Estonian citizens hostage as totally inappropriate.

“I am asking you all to understand that detailed disclosure of the actions taken by Estonia and our allies is not appropriate at the moment and may result in postponing the release of the Estonian citizens,” President Ilves told.

Mr. Urmas Paet, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, established an Intra-Institutional Crisis Committee on the 23rd of March after seven Estonian citizens were kidnapped in Lebanon. The Head of State has been informed of the activities of the Crisis Committee on an on-going basis.

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