Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Belgium Pays Ransom To Iran

Old Europe. What else can be said?

Boeve's return cost EUR 600,000

Not too many people were happy to hear world traveller Stefaan Boeve insist that he "will certainly be going back" to Iran.

Just after landing at Melsbroek the freed hostage declared that he wants to return to the site of the kidnapping to retrieve his jeep. The Foreign Affairs Ministry advises tourists not to visit this particular area because it is dangerous.

It is difficult to calculate exactly how much the Boeve affair has cost the taxpayer, but the total is in the area of EUR 600,000. To start Minister De Gucht will donate EUR 500,000 to a programme to combat drugs in the region where Boeve was kidnapped, "in gratitude for the good cooperation." This gift would not have been made otherwise.
Neville Chamberlain was unavailable for comment.

There's more.

No comments: