Minister Ahern welcomes the release of the UN workers held hostage in Afghanistan
23/11/2004
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern TD, welcomed the release of Annetta Flanigan and the two other UN workers in Afghanistan today.
The Minister said:
“I am absolutely delighted that Annetta and her colleagues have been released unharmed and are being reunited with their families.
I know that my sense of relief is shared by all Irish people. I wish to pay tribute to the Secretary General of the United Nations and his staff, and to the Afghan Government for their patient and tireless efforts which led to the successful release of Annetta and her co-workers.
This has been a very difficult time for Annetta’s husband José and her family in Armagh who have endured enormous distress while waiting for news of her release. I am very happy for them that she is now safe and well.
As we celebrate the release of Annetta, our thoughts remain with the families of other kidnap victims, and particularly Ken Bigley and Margaret Hassan, who tragically did not survive their abductions.”
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