Rita Narayan
SUVA (Fiji Broadcasting Corporation / Pacific Media Watch): The Fiji government has neither confirmed nor denied whether the Qatari government paid a ransom of $20 million to secure the release of 45 Fijian peacekeepers last week.
A statement though says the government is grateful to Qatar for its efforts in the release of the soldiers captured by the al-Nusra Front militants in Syria.
Foreign Affairs Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola met with his Qatari counterpart in Doha last week.
He says Dr Khalid bin Mohammed al Attiyah promised him that "they will spare no efforts in making sure that your soldiers are released safely".
Ratu Inoke says the government of Qatar ’s intention to assist in the release of the soldiers was on humanitarian grounds.
That was the assurance he got from his Qatari counterpart.
Ratu Inoke says: “He told me I will have good news within 24 hours and sure enough it was.”
Qatar has paid ransoms in the past in the release of 13 nuns and also for the release of US journalist Peter Curtis.
International media have reported that Qatar has paid $20 million in ransom for the militants to release the Fijian soldiers.
Qatar 'paid $20m ransom' for release of Fijian peacekeepers - Pacific Scoop
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