Dermot Ahern to meet Colombian foreign minister in New York

19/09/2005 - 15:32:42
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern will meet his Colombian counterpart in New York this evening to discuss the case of the three Irishmen convicted in the South American state for training FARC rebels.

Colombia is requesting the extradition of the Colombia Three, who are now back in Ireland, so they can serve out their sentences there.

The ministers will be meeting on the fringes of the UN General Assembly.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, said it is important to hear the Colombian point-of-view: “Dermot will obviously be outlining what we have said before, that we have to follow the legal process here – that it is a legal process.

“But we will certainly take into account their concerns and the position of the Colombian authorities. Remember, we went to them when there were difficulties with the safety of the prisoners, and so now I think it is important that we listen to them,” he said.