Swiss Confirm Visit to U.S. Hikers Held in Iran

[tekisui]

Source: Reuters

GENEVA, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Swiss diplomats were allowed on Tuesday to visit three American hikers detained in Iran, a Swiss Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

The trio were held after they strayed into Iran from northern Iraq at the end of July.

"I can confirm ... that Swiss diplomats have had access to, and direct contact with, the three Americans citizens concerned in Iran today," ministry spokesman Lars Knuchel told Reuters by telephone from the Swiss capital, Berne.

He declined to give any details, saying that only the U.S. State Department could provide more information.

Switzerland has represented U.S. interests in Iran since 1980 following the Islamic revolution a few months earlier. The visits took place on the eve of a meeting between Iran and six world powers being organised in Geneva by the Swiss.

The American interests section of the Swiss Embassy in Tehran handles all consular matters of the United States in Iran, such as consular protection and passport applications for American citizens visiting or residing in Iran.

In Washington, the U.S. State Department said that Iran had granted consular access to the three Americans.

more: http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSLT697674

[BlooInBloo]

1. Small progress, perhaps? I'm sure Obama is working on it with others.

[orpupilofnature57]

2. It's like having the right of way, in a T-bone collision.

[Canuckistanian]

3. I still can't get over the stupidity of the hikers

Hiking. In Afghanistan. Along the Afghan-Iran borderline.

Gee, what could possibly go wrong? Didn't the Korean DMZ have any good hiking trails?

[tekisui]

4. It was the Iraq-Iran border, but yeah. That doesn't change

their stupidity.

[Canuckistanian]

5. Isn't that interesting

On our local CBC news they definitely said the Iran-Afghan border.

The Iran-Iraq border makes more sense to me.

I'll have to send them an email about this blatant error.

[tekisui]

6. Let me check and make sure,

but I am damn near certain...

yeah, Iraq:

Iran said it was giving the Swiss ambassador in Tehran, who represents U.S. interests there, consular access to the three Americans - two men and a woman - held by Iran since late July when they apparently strayed into Iran while on a hike in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq.

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-09-29-voa56.cfm

[Canuckistanian]

7. The Kurdish region is nowhere near Afghanistan

I think you're right.