Chirac denies France paid ransom

Press, 30 November 1987, Page 10

Chirac denies France paid ransom

NZPA-Reuter

Paris

The French Prime Minister, Jacques Chirac, on Saturday denied that France had paid a ransom for the release of two French hostages in Beirut and called on Iran to help free other captives in Lebanon.

Speaking moments before the two freed men arrived at Orly Airport, Mr Chirac said no money had been paid to the kidnappers and described talk of ransom as “untruthful allegations completely without foundation.”

He said his Government wanted to improve relations with Iran, with which it severed relations in July, but could not do so until three remaining French hostages were freed.

A television technician, Jean-Louis Normandin, aged 35, and photographer Roger Auque, 31, were freed in Muslim west Beirut on Friday. Normandin was kidnapped in March, 1986, by the pro-Iranian Revolu-

tionary Justice Organisation; Auque was seized 10 months ago. The two arrived in Paris aboard an official Mystere jet looking dazed but in good health as Mr Chirac, the Foreign Minister, Jean-Bernard Raimond, and scores of journalists and well-wishers gathered around them on the tarmac. “Don’t ask me too much. I don’t know, but it’s tremendous to be here,” Mr Normandin, clutching his nine-year-old son, Antoine. Events leading to their release are still unclear but revelations about the role of a secret French envoy have prompted questions about the price Paris may have paid for the men’s freedom.

Newspapers speculated that the presence of the envoy, identified by the kidnappers and their captors as “Alexandre Stephani”, signalled that France had decided to deal directly with the kidnappers. The Chirac Government had in the past said it would deal only with Governments such as Iran or Syria which might be able to influence kidnappers. The French Government has refused to comment on Stephani’s role or even acknowledge that he exists. It did, however, send a message of thanks to the Syrian Foreign Minister, Farouq al-Shara, for his country's "humanitarian help” in freeing Mr Normandin and Mr Auque.

“The key to the negotiations is held by Mr Stephani, who, I think, is the man who has the situation in hand,” said Mr Auque, who had shaved off the beard grown during 10 months of captivity. "I would like to thank Mr Stephani and it is especially for the last three months that we have had lots of hope,” he said.

Intelligence experts say Stephani is an alias for Jean-Charles Marchiani, a former intelligence agent and close associate of Interior Minister, Charles Pasqua. The role of Iran, previously seen as the key to the hostage puzzle, was unclear in the eventual release of Mr Normandin

and Mr Auque.

Mr Chirac said France wanted to restore what he called normal relations with the Islamic Republic, but added, “What we hope for cannot be achieved so long as groups over which the Islamic republic could have a decisive influence hold hostages, notably in Lebanon.”

Immediately after coming to power in March 1986, Chirac made improved relations with Iran a foreign-policy priority as part of efforts to free French hostages.

Five hostages were released as the two countries moved closer together, but relations then turned sour last December, finally snapping in July.