The Department of Foreign Affairs today, 10 July 2004, released the following statement attributable to the Spokesman for UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on the two Bulgarians and the Filipino national, Angelo del a Cruz, held hostage in Iraq.

"The Secretary General is deeply concerned about the threats to the lives of the two Bulgarian nationals and one Filipino national who are reportedly held hostage by Iraqi militants.

The Secretary General calls for the release of these three person and all of the innocent civilians who may have been abducted for political ends in the country,"

The Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Lauro L. Baja, and his Bulgarian counterpart, Permanent Representative Stefan Tafrod, called on UN Secretary General Annan on 09 July 2004 to seek assistance for the release of Angelo Dela Cruz and the 2 Bulgarians.
END