Charbel, Ibrahim Say 3-Way Deal to be Fully Implemented as Bishops Remain in Captivity
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
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.
21 October 2013, 10:49
65
The Bishops are Syrian so why isn't Assad moving a finger? its not for Lebanese to free them, even if they are from an endangered spiece (Christians)
21 October 2013, 11:35
46
They are maybe Syrians, so what? Bassam, this is an attack on two Oriental churches. they were travelling within the boundaries of their mutraniye, which includes Antakia. One of the two is also the brother of the Orthdox Patriarch (which is the same for all the region). Unarmed, two bearded bishops, captured by foreign Islamist thugs. This is a threat to religious coexistence, and this is exactly why President Sleiman and other politicians care about them. Also Geagea is (sometimes) advocating for their release. If I was in M14, I would not try to neglect the rightful feelings of the Syriac and Orthodox community with cheap arguments like yours.
21 October 2013, 15:14
33
How much did Ibrahim and charbel pocket from Qatar? we just need to keep an eye on their estates in the upcoming months....
21 October 2013, 15:16
33
Sure it's sad and despicable to kidnap clergymen, but we have well over 10.000 lebanese countrymen abducted by syria and still missing. they are the top priority. And among these 10.000, there's much more than 2 christians!
21 October 2013, 17:31
00
hello Danton 2, I am not giving cheap arguments. I am just asking a question. Why Lebanese officials and Lebanese media are addressing the issue of the Syrian bishops as if it is their own people.
If they are Syrian citizens, then we can only wish they are back and reunited with their followers and families. and the Syrian government should care of them.
I am a Lebanese citizen, not a nationalist, not a religious hater. I live here, pay my taxes, and bare with it. And sometimes I think i want to make things better by just questioning these actions that my government.
Couple of Lebanese citizens died in the indonesian ship, and the governments sent ministers and ran investigations. the government took responsibility (unfortunately late) but it did to protect its citizens, this is what i expect of my country to do.
They should for all the Lebanese dying abroad specially those in syria, and the government should not be late.
21 October 2013, 17:32
10
And if you care so much about unrightfull abductions.
There are tens of thousands of abducted persons in syria that are syrian, why doesnt out government help them. because they are not bishops or Christians?
If that is an attack on the Oriental Churches, what do you call the 100,000 or so dead in syria (most of them ppl like you and me) within the boundaries of their motraniye villages and cities, also unarmed some bearded and some not. That s an attack on humanity. And no one cares. no, until the attack is on the Christians. or on Maalooula.
21 October 2013, 17:33
10
- The Alawaites have fallen victim to the alawite elite holding the army and also fallen victim to the greed and thirst for power by supporting this un-rightfull regime,
- The Christians were forced to endorse this bloody regime for the last 30 years that protected them from the ba3ba3. And what is their excuse? because they are afraid, the Christians should stand up for the rightfull deeds even if that meant we being all killed. Being afraid is not an excuse. I am a christian by faith and this the real meaning of martyrdom.
- And the sunnies were pulled to this violent fight because they have reached an unbearable pressure. and now they have to deal with themselves turning into "non-religious thugs" in the name of sunni islam similar to those that assumingly kidnapped the 2 bishops.
They are not threat to religious coexistance. They are victims.
21 October 2013, 19:35
02
Why would they pocket smarty not so smart they did not render any service to Qatar it was the other way around I guess
