Jordan Times
Wednesday, September 1, 2004
Jordan intervenes for France
By Alia Shukri Hamzeh
AMMAN — Jordan on Tuesday pledged to help France secure the release of two
French journalists kidnapped in Iraq, as Foreign Ministry officials started
contacts with groups and organisations there.
The pledge was made at the same time France renewed its appeal for the lives of
its citizens, hours before the expiry of an ultimatum issued by the Iraqi
abductors.
“We have started contacts through the Jordanian embassy in Baghdad with Iraqi
groups and organisations to help end the hostage situation,” Foreign Minister
Marwan Muasher told reporters following talks with his French counterpart Michel
Barnier, who arrived in Amman on an emergency mission to help free the two
newsmen. His Majesty King Abdullah pledged support on Tuesday saying the country
would intensify efforts and contacts with Iraq to ensure the release of the
journalists who went missing 11 days ago, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, said.
In his talks with Barnier, the King denounced the kidnapping as that which
“reflects the violation, by some, of the morals and values of goodness and
justice, which are the basis of Islam.”
French journalists, Christian Chesnot of Radio France Internationale and Georges
Malbrunot, who writes for the dailies Le Figaro and Ouest France, disappeared in
Iraq on Aug. 20.
Both journalists were taken hostage by a group calling itself the “Islamic Army
of Iraq.”
The kidnappers on Saturday evening gave France an initial 48-hour ultimatum to
revoke its recent law banning the Islamic headscarf at state schools.
The ultimatum was later extended by 24 hours to Tuesday night. The reporters,
who appeared on Al Jazeera satellite channel and warned that time was running
out, were reportedly kidnapped as they were travelling from Baghdad to Najaf.
Muasher told reporters Jordan would coordinate the release of the hostages with
the French embassy, adding that time was critical.
“But I hope we will obtain positive results,” he said, indicating that the
Kingdom has developed contacts with many people and organisations that are in
touch with some of the groups in Iraq which were responsible for the abduction
of several Jordanian citizens in past weeks.
Jordan has managed to secure the release of eight citizens who were kidnapped by
different Iraqi groups in July and August.
“We have expressed to the French foreign minister our willingness to contact all
these groups and to apply all the resources at our disposal,” Muasher said.
In remarks to the press following his meetings with the foreign minister and
King Abdullah, Barnier made another impassioned appeal for the lives of Chesnot
and Malbrunot.
“I call for the release of the two journalists in the name of respect for
humanity and human life which are at the very heart of the message of Islam...
In the name of logic I hope this message will be heard,” said Barnier.
He said the two newsmen, who are sincerely attached to the Iraqi people and the
Arab and Muslim cause, were professional journalists, carrying out their job in
Iraq to explain to the world the reality of the situation and the difficult
living conditions of the Iraqi people.
Barnier reiterated his country's commitment to justice, dignity and sovereignty
of both Palestine and Iraq, saying France has defended the independence of
war-torn Iraq and remained in solidarity with its people.
France, which has been a fierce opponent of the US-led war on Iraq and persisted
on not sending any troops to the turmoil-struck country, was shocked by the
kidnapping of the two journalists.