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Iraq
Disappearance of a French journalist and her interpreter-guide in Iraq – Interview given by Michel Barnier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to the "Le Monde" newspaper
Paris, March 3, 2005
Q. – (on the video images of Florence Aubenas, missing in Iraq)
THE MINISTER – We’re quite obviously at a turning point, but all its aspects aren’t yet clear to us. The kidnappers have decided to end their silence. But they haven’t given either the name or nature of their group, or specified a demand. I want to hope that as a result of this new development, which has at least allowed us to see Florence Aubenas alive, even though in harrowing conditions, we’ll be able to make progress on getting her release. Q. – (on Florence Aubenas’ appeal to Didier Julia)
THE MINISTER – What we saw yesterday, in the terrible pictures, is a young woman suffering and who, in conditions we know nothing about, issued a personal appeal to a French deputy. Yesterday on television he said that he probably knew the kidnappers and that they knew him too. Thinking solely of Florence Aubenas and Hussein Hanoun’s safety, we must pull all the possible strings and explore every lead./.
Embassy of France in the United States - March 3, 2005
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