EAS Statement on the ROK Hostages in Afghanistan - "The World and Japan" Database

"The World and Japan" Database (Project Leader: TANAKA Akihiko)

Database of Japanese Politics and International Relations

National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS); Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia (IASA), The University of Tokyo

[Title] EAS Statement on the ROK Hostages in Afghanistan

[Place] Manila, Philippines

[Date] July 31, 2007

[Source] Association of Southeast Asian Nations

[Notes]

[Full text]

The Foreign Ministers of the participating states of the East Asia Summit exchanged views on the situation in Afghanistan and expressed deep concern over the recent sad turn of events concerning the abduction of innocent citizens of the Republic of Korea.

The Foreign Ministers expressed their deepest sympathy to the bereaved families, people, and government of the Republic of Korea for the unjustifiable killing of two Korean citizens. For humanitarian reasons, they issued an appeal for the immediate and unconditional release of the remaining hostages to enable them to reunite with their loved ones.