U.S.
Senator Member of the Agriculture, Energy and Veterans Affairs
Committees |
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For Immediate
Release May 23, 2005 |
CONTACT: Cody Wertz – Press Secretary 202-228-3630 Jen Clanahan – Deputy Press Secretary 303-455-7600 |
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UPDATE: TWO COLORADANS SET TO
RETURN FROM UAE SEN. SALAZAR APPLAUDS HOMECOMING OF
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS RESIDENTS JONATHAN COLES AND STEVE RAKOWSKI WASHINGTON, D.C. – United States Senator Ken Salazar today released the following statement on the imminent return home of Colorado citizens Jonathan Coles and Steve Rakowski from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the Middle East: “Throughout this process, my only focus was to bring these men home to their families and I promised to work hard to do just that. I am pleased that this has been resolved without incident and that Mr. Coles and Mr. Rakowski are headed home,” Senator Salazar said. The release of Coles and Rakowski, both of Steamboat
Springs, comes
just weeks after Senator Salazar, along with Sen. Wayne Allard, met with
United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to the Coles and Rakowski are employees of the Centennial-based mapping company CompassData and were placed under house arrest in December 2004, for taking unauthorized photos of government installations in technical violation of the Emirates’ national security laws, after undertaking survey work near Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE. Both men had their passports confiscated and were prohibited from leaving the country. According to the State Department, today the court process in the UAE ended, resulting in fines against both individuals in the amount of 2000 Dirham, about $550 U.S. dollars. Once the fine is paid, their passports should be returned to them and the two men are expected to leave the UAE shortly thereafter. ### |
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