Statement by Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on the Release of Shane Bauer and Joshua Fattal

Susan E. Rice
U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations 
U.S. Mission to the United Nations 

New York, NY

September 21, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

I join President Obama and Secretary Clinton in welcoming the release of Shane Bauer and Joshua Fattal after two long years in captivity. They should never have been held in the first place, and today, our thoughts are with Shane, Josh, and their families during their long-overdue reunion. We look forward to their safe return to United States.

We are deeply grateful for the efforts of all of our partners who worked towards the release of Shane and Josh today and of Sarah Shourd last September, in particular the Swiss Protecting Power in Tehran, the Omani government, and the Iraqi government. We also express our thanks to the many world leaders who intervened on their behalf, including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.

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