Charbel, Ibrahim Say 3-Way Deal to be Fully Implemented as Bishops Remain in Captivity
Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel and General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim confirmed that a three-way deal that saw the release of nine Lebanese pilgrims and two Turkish pilots will be fully implemented through the liberation of Syrian women detainees.
In remarks to al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Monday, Ibrahim expressed relief at the return of the nine pilgrims home and the release of the two Turkish Airlines pilots.
Asked about the fate of the women held in Syrian government jails, he said: “What we had agreed upon has been fully implemented.”
He did not give further details. But Charbel explained that although the detainees haven't yet been released, the Syrian regime would implement the deal.
Syria has certain judicial, administrative and logistics procedures that have delayed their release, he said.
Sources close to the negotiations said the women were supposed to have been put on planes from Damascus to Turkey on Sunday.
Charbel told al-Joumhouria that the rebels asking for their release have handed the authorities a new list of names.
But he said: “Things will be resolved in the coming 24 to 48 hours.”
The three-way deal was negotiated by Qatar and Palestinian officials.
The nine Shiite pilgrims were kidnapped in May 2012 while on their way from Iran to Lebanon via Turkey and Syria. As for Turkish Airlines pilots Murat Akpinar and Murat Agca, they were abducted in August in Beirut.
They all returned home on Saturday night.
But two bishops, Youhanna Ibrahim and Boulos Yazigi, who were kidnapped in Syria at the end of April remain in captivity.
Ibrahim told al-Joumhouria that “this issue is being resolved and we will not back off from what we have promised and sought for.”
“We won't forget about this issue. The exerted efforts will continue in the appropriate way to bring them to freedom,” he stressed.
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