Romanian journalists freed
{{date|May 23, 2005}}

<!--[[Image:Ro-journ-iraq-kidnapped.png|thumb|right|350px|The three journalists: Sorin Miscoci, Marie-Jeanne Ion and Ovidiu Ohanesian]]-->

The three [[w:Romania|Romanian]] journalists kidnapped in [[w:Iraq|Iraq]] on March 28 were freed yesterday. The Presidency issued a release stating that Marie-Jeanne Ion, Ovidiu Ohanesian and Sorin Miscoci, as well as their guide, Mohamed Munaf, were under the protection of the Romanian authorities as of 13:44 [[w:Universal Time Coordinated|UTC]], yesterday.

Romania's president, [[w:Traian Basescu|Traian Băsescu]], assured people that, for the journalists' release, no ransom was given and there was no negotiation in terms of changing Romania's foreign policy. Romania's 860 troops will remain in Iraq.

Ion Vasile, the father of Marie-Jeanne Ion, said that he was happy that his daughter is in safe hands, and considers that, after her release, he feels she has been "born again". He said, "It's an immense happiness, for which we prayed 53 days!"

A Hercules plane left Romania yesterday, at 16:30, for Iraq. For security reasons, the journalists were not boarded onto the plane during the night. It is expected that they will return with this plane today, leaving for [[w:Bucharest|Bucharest]].

==Related stories==

*[[Romanian media workers ask Iraqi ambassador for help regarding kidnapped journalists]], ''[[Main Page|WikiNews]]'', May 5, 2005
*[[Romanian government asks kidnappers to release female journalist]], ''[[Main Page|WikiNews]]'', April 30, 2005
*[[Execution deadline for kidnapped journalists expires]], ''[[Main Page|WikiNews]]'', April 27, 2005
*[[Thousands of Romanians rally for release of kidnapped journalists]], ''[[Main Page|WikiNews]]'', April 26, 2005
*[[Romanian PM says his country won't give in to terrorist demands]], ''[[Main Page|WikiNews]]'', April 25, 2005
*[[Romanian reporters call for release of hostages in Iraq]], ''[[Main Page|WikiNews]]'', April 24, 2005
*[[Romania will do everything possible to spare journalists kidnapped in Iraq]], ''[[Main Page|WikiNews]]'', April 23, 2005
*[[Three Romanian journalists abducted in Iraq]], ''[[Main Page|WikiNews]]'', March 30, 2005

==Sources==

* {{source|url=http://www.gardianul.ro/index.php?a=primapagina2005052301.xml
|pub=Gardianul
|title=Negocierile cu teroristii s-au incheiat cu succes. Care a fost pretul eliberarii?
|author=Nicoleta Livezeanu, Cristina Constantinescu, Alexandru Stancu
|date=May 23, 2005}}

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[[Category:Romania]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Iraq]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]

[[es:Periodistas rumanos liberados en Iraq]]
[[it:Rilasciati ostaggi romeni]]
The three Romanian journalists kidnapped in Iraq on March 28 were freed yesterday. The Presidency issued a release stating that Marie-Jeanne Ion, Ovidiu Ohanesian and Sorin Miscoci, as well as their guide, Mohamed Munaf, were under the protection of the Romanian authorities as of 13:44 UTC, yesterday.

Romania's president, Traian Băsescu, assured people that, for the journalists' release, no ransom was given and there was no negotiation in terms of changing Romania's foreign policy. Romania's 860 troops will remain in Iraq.

Ion Vasile, the father of Marie-Jeanne Ion, said that he was happy that his daughter is in safe hands, and considers that, after her release, he feels she has been "born again". He said, "It's an immense happiness, for which we prayed 53 days!"

A Hercules plane left Romania yesterday, at 16:30, for Iraq. For security reasons, the journalists were not boarded onto the plane during the night. It is expected that they will return with this plane today, leaving for Bucharest.
Romania Europe Iraq Politics and conflicts