IRAQ: DUTCH FM BERNARD BOT VISITING BAGHDAD AS PART OF AN EU DELEGATION COMMENTS ON POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE FROM EU TO SECURE RELEASE OF TWO FRENCH HOSTAGES
Record ID:
584756
IRAQ: DUTCH FM BERNARD BOT VISITING BAGHDAD AS PART OF AN EU DELEGATION COMMENTS ON POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE FROM EU TO SECURE RELEASE OF TWO FRENCH HOSTAGES
- Title: IRAQ: DUTCH FM BERNARD BOT VISITING BAGHDAD AS PART OF AN EU DELEGATION COMMENTS ON POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE FROM EU TO SECURE RELEASE OF TWO FRENCH HOSTAGES
- Date: 29th August 2004
- Summary: (U4) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (AUGUST 29, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. DUTCH FOREIGN MINISTER BERNARD BOT ENTERING BRIEFING ROOM 0.04 2. SOUNDBITE: (English) BOT SAYING: "The question about the French hostages is principally a question of negotiations between the Iraqi government and the French government. Of course, if the EU can be of assistance, we will." 0.40 3. WIDE OF ROOM 0.44 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 13th September 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Reuters ID: LVAEAQV2E2JWZLQ5DTAKMWTNXIN4
- Story Text: Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot visits Baghdad.
Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot visitied Baghdad
on Sunday (August 29), as part of an EU delegation
commenting on possible assistance from the EU to secure the
release of two French hostages.
"The question about the French hostages is principally a
question of negotiations between the Iraqi government and
the French government. Of course, if the EU can be of
assistance, we will", said Bernard Bot.
The kidnapping of two French journalists in Iraq has
injected new tension into France's debate over banning
Islamic headscarves in schools just as Paris was hoping for
a smooth start to the school year this week.
The Islamic Army in Iraq has given France 48 hours to
revoke the controversial ban.
As French leaders scrambled to strategy meetings on
Sunday morning, it seemed unlikely they would revoke the
ban which has wide support among French voters. Even many
French Muslims quietly support it as a way to check
fundamentalists here.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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