Mr President, apart from the stabilisation, rehabilitation, reconstruction and democratisation of Iraq, tasks which I believe, Mr President, should not be the sole responsibility of the United States but of the whole of the international democratic community, I believe that there is currently an immediate priority which must not be put off – which the Presidency-in-Office of the Council has not mentioned explicitly – and that is the release of the kidnapped French journalists, Mr Malbrunot and Mr Chesnot, and their Syrian chauffeur, as well as the Italian aid workers, Miss Torreta and Miss Pari.
Arvoisa neuvoston puheenjohtaja, olemme huolissamme siitä, että olette todennut neuvoston pitävän näitä tapahtumia pelkkinä surullisina uutisina. Eilen sanoitte ulkoasiainvaliokunnassa neuvoston päättäneen, että on parasta olla tekemättä mitään.