EU Presidency on the kidnapping
of the Dutch humanitarian aid worker Arjan Erkel
Source: European Union Date: 31 Jan 2003
Declaration by the EU Presidency on the kidnapping of the Dutch humanitarian aid
worker Arjan Erkel in the Northern Caucasus
The EU welcomes with great relief the recent release of Ms. Davidovich, after
six months of captivity. It recalls its statement of 26 August 2002 and following
appeals, condemning the abductions of humanitarian aid workers Ms Davidovich and
Mr Erkel in the Northern Caucasus. The EU again calls for the immediate and safe
release of Arjan Erkel of Medecins Sans Frontieres, who remains in captivity after
having been abducted on 12 August 2002, over five months ago.
Kidnapping of aid workers can only aggravate the situation in the Northern Caucasus
and worsen the humanitarian conditions. Finally, the EU welcomes the continuing
efforts of the Russian authorities to ensure Mr Erkel's release so that he be
reunited with his family and friends unharmed.
The Acceding Countries Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania,
Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia, the Associated Countries Bulgaria,
Romania and Turkey and the EFTA countries, members of the European Economic Area,
align themselves with this declaration.