GERMANY: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says Washington believes Iran had no reason to detain three American hikers
Record ID:
313647
GERMANY: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says Washington believes Iran had no reason to detain three American hikers
- Title: GERMANY: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says Washington believes Iran had no reason to detain three American hikers
- Date: 10th November 2009
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (NOVEMBER 9, 2009) (REUTERS) (CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON AND GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER GUIDO WESTERWELLE ARRIVING FRO NEWS CONFERENCE AT FOREIGN MINISTRY CAMERA CREWS FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, HILLARY CLINTON SAYING: "With respect to the three American hikers who were detained by the Iranians when they were hiking in northern Iraq, we believe strongly that there is no evidence to support any charge whatsoever. And we would renew our request on behalf of these three young people and their families that the Iranian government exercise compassion and release them so they can return home, and we will continue to make that case through our Swiss protecting power who represents the United States in Tehran." CAMERA CREWS FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, HILLARY CLINTON SAYING: "We are going to present to the government of Afghanistan and President (Hamid) Karzai a clear set of expectations of accountability measures so there can be no doubt as to what we expect from this relationship." PHOTOGRAPHER TAKING PICTURES MERKEL AND WESTERWELLE SHAKING HANDS AND WALKING OFF
- Embargoed: 25th November 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Germany
- Country: Germany
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVA6OTITS86D136C1T4CHIFQ01JV
- Story Text: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Monday the United States believed Iran had no reason to detain three American hikers held there and that they should be released.
"We believe strongly that there is no evidence to support any charge whatsoever," Clinton said on a visit to Berlin.
"And we would renew our request on behalf of these three young people and their families that the Iranian government exercise compassion and release them so they can return home, and we will continue to make that case," she added during a joint news conference with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.
Regarding Afghanistan and its new government, Clinton told reporters that any commitment by Germany, the United States and other forces had to be met by an even greater commitment on behalf of the new government of President Hamid Karzai.
"We are going to present to the government of Afghanistan and President (Hamid) Karzai a clear set of expectations of accountability measures so there can be no doubt as to what we expect from this relationship," Clinton said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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