The cyclists appeared in a video in May begging for governments to negotiate their release The seven Estonians appeared on the balcony of the French Embassy in Beirut at quarter to one this afternoon in front of the media institutions, television agencies, and photographers who had gathered outside on the road to Damascus, in central Beirut.
The appearance came a few hours after their release, confirming they are in good health. Later today they will be transferred to Baabda where a public prosecutor will listen to their statements before they are joined by the Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs, who will arrive in Beirut at ten tonight.
Lebanese Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, has been overseeing the release operation of the seven Estonians since this morning, and has briefed the leaders of the security agencies on the detailed reports about their status, instructing them to take the Estonians back to Beirut. He briefed the French Ambassador, Dony Pieton, about the French efforts in this regard. President Mikati also received a call from the Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Urmas Paet, and they have agreed to hold a meeting in the government with the arrival of the Estonian Minister in Lebanon.
The French Ambassador\'s tour coincided with the event. He met with President Mikati on political and governmental terms, and visited the Foreign Ministry where he met with the Minister Adnan Mansour. Pieton said after the meeting: \"The visit was arranged a long time ago, when I asked for a meeting with the Minister Mansouri as a courtesy of the long relationship between us, being the first meeting after his appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs. I have apologized for not joining the delegation of EU ambassadors on a visit to Minister Mansour tomorrow, as I have been forced to accompany the delegation from the French Minister of Health. We have certainly dealt with the release of the Estonian group, and have expressed how pleased we are at this happy ending.\"
He added: \"We are delighted to finally get the hostages released as a result of the investigations that have taken place.\"
Q: Could you tell us more about the French efforts in the process?
A: Pieton: \"Since the kidnapping, France along with all of Estonia’s neighbouring countries, and other allies, moved to provide diplomatic and logistical support to Estonia. It is an Estonian-Lebanese matter, but we are delighted to have been able to contribute out part in the positive process for the release of the group. However, I must repeat that it is an Estonian-Lebanese matter.\"
Q: But you played the main role in the process of the release?
A: Pieton: \"From the beginning, and at the request of Estonia, we offered diplomatic and financial support, and worked in a transparent way with the Lebanese authorities.\"
Q: What do you mean by financial support?
A: Pieton: \"I\'ve met with Estonian Foreign Minister Urmus Paet when he came to Lebanon because Estonia does not have an embassy in Beirut, as the Estonian Ambassador in Beirut approved of residing in the Embassy in Turkey. For this reason we facilitated the communication process between the Estonian government and the Lebanese authorities, and in establishing this contact the Estonian diplomat has become a good companion of ours.\"
In response to another question, Ambassador Pieton confirmed: \"The freed Estonians are now comfortable in the French Embassy, and they will return to their country as soon as possible. I believe that they are in good health.\"