Episcopal Press and News

Runcie Calls for Official British Efforts to Free Hostages

Episcopal News Service. May 10, 1990 [90028E]

Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie has urged the British government to open official channels of contact with Iran and Syria in its search for the release of hostages held in Lebanon. The Runcie statement, issued shortly after the April 30 freeing of American hostage Frank Herbert Reed, was further elucidated by Rev. John Lyttle, the archbishop's Middle East adviser, who stressed that "no matter how good intermediaries are, direct talks between people looking each other in the eye get better results." Prime Minister Thatcher's office responded by characterizing Runcie's comments as "meddlesome." Britain does not currently have diplomatic relations with either Iran or Syria. And among the presumed hostages is Terry Waite, Archbishop Runcie's personal envoy, who disappeared in January 1987 while pursuing unofficial hostage negotiations with Muslim fundamentalists in Beirut.