Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on the freeing of Arjan Erkel

The Secretary-General warmly welcomes the freeing of Arjan Erkel, a volunteer for the non-governmental aid organization, Medecins Sans Frontiers, who had been abducted on 12 August 2002 while working in the Russian Republic of Dagestan. He thanks the Russian and Dagestani authorities for their efforts to facilitate Mr. Erkel's release.