Prime Minister welcomes news of sailors' release
5 Apr 07
The Prime Minister Tony Blair has welcomed the news that the 15 Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel detained by Iranian authorities since Friday 23 March 2007 are to be released and returned to the UK.
![Prime Minister Tony Blair aboard HMS Liverpool on Monday 2 April 2007 [Picture: LA (Phot)JJ Massey]](GenerateThumbnail.aspx?imageURL=/NR/rdonlyres/102343FA-1B70-4395-99E5-3443A37DC35F/0/PMonLiverpool.jpg&maxSize=210)
Prime Minister Tony Blair aboard HMS Liverpool on Monday 2 April 2007
[Picture: LA (Phot)JJ Massey]
In a short statement to reporters outside No. 10 Downing Street, Mr Blair said:
"I am glad that our 15 Service personnel have been released. I know their release will come as a profound relief not just to them but to their families that have endured such distress and anxiety over these past 12 days. Throughout we have taken a measured approach; firm but calm. Not negotiating, but not confronting either.
"I would like to thank our allies in Europe, our allies in the United Nations Security Council for their support, and also our friends and allies in the region, who played their part; we are grateful to all of them as we are to the officials in the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence and here in Downing Street for the work that they have done.
"And, to the Iraninan people I would simply say this: We bear you no ill will. On the contrary we respect Iran as an ancient civilisation, as a nation with a proud and dignified history, and the disagreements that we have with your government we wish to resolve peacefully, through dialogue. I hope, as I have always hoped, that we are able to do so."
The 15 personnel, eight from the Royal Navy and seven from the Royal Marines, were engaged in routine boarding operations of merchant shipping in Iraqi territorial waters in support of UNSCR 1723 and the government of Iraq. The personnel are expected to return to the UK tomorrow, Thursday 5 April 2007.
Secretary of State for Defence Des Browne added:
"I welcome this news. It must be a tremendous relief for our people who have been held in Iran – they have acted with great dignity throughout. It is vital that we get them back home quickly and safely so they can be reunited with their families and loved ones – that is our priority now."