ARRIVING IN DAMASCUS AFTER HIS KIDNAPPERS FREED HIM IN BEIRUT, FORMER HOSTAGE ROBERT POLHILL, LEFT, SHAKES HANDS WITH SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER
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Former hostage Robert Polhill has been freed by his captors in Beirut, as announced by President Bush. Polhill expressed his gratitude for those involved in his release but remains concerned for his two friends and other hostages still held captive in Lebanon. During his captivity, Polhill had limited information about his situation and played cards to pass the time. He emphasized the importance of maintaining anger as a way to prevent mental decline. Polhill also revealed that the demands made by the kidnappers have remained the same since their initial demand to release prisoners in Israeli jails. Regarding his plans for the future, Polhill is eager to reunite with his family and discuss it together. President Bush expressed his satisfaction with Polhill's release but reiterated the need for the release of all hostages. He acknowledged the possibility of improved relations with Iran if they facilitate the release of American hostages. The article also provides a list of the remaining American hostages in Lebanon.
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Body: THE WASHINGTON POST p ~L /c c4
n....,..,?"'. ,ftar hic kidnanners freed him in Beirut, former hostage Robert Polhill, left, shakes hands with Syrian Foreign Farouk
Approved For Release 2000/08/
bite
Appro
M se
atement
Associated Press
nnscript of President
a's statement on the hos-
release, read by White
Fe press secretary Marlin
water.
We are pleased at the
that Robert Polhill has
9 freed by his captors.
are obviously happy for
for his family and for
riends.
Ne also wish to thank
;e who had a hand in the
ase, particularly the gov-
bients of Syria and Iran,
?,e efforts have contrib-
to the release of this
,,ge.
)ur satisfaction at the
>ase, however, is sub-
atially tempered by the
zwledge that seven other
ocent Americans, as well
a number of foreign na-
aals, are still being
Telly held hostage in Leb-
an.
"We cannot rest until all
stages are free. Once
ain we urgently call on all
rties who hold hostages or
7o have any influence to
-)rk to obtain the immedi-
e and unconditional re-
ase of the remaining hos-
ges as a humanitarian ges-
are."
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Associated Press
DAMASCUS, Syria, April 22 Following are ex-
cerpts from a Syrian state television interview with
released American hostage Robert Polhill.
How do you feel after being released?
I'm very happy and grateful to all the people who
spent time on my case. I'm still deeply concerned
about my two friends and others who are still held in
the conditions I was held in. Some of them have
been held longer than me. My happiness tonight is a
bit toned down that they're not with me. I'm looking
forward that we'll be together again, all of us....
I don't know where I'm going. I think it's better
you ask me specific questions. I'm not sure. I can't
summarize 39 months of my life. It's a little bit dif-
ficult at this moment. I didn't have time to begin
reflecting yet on those 39 months of my life.
How was your first day in captivity?
I remember my first day in captivity more than the
rest of my days in captivity.... It was boring.
We were not allowed to speak loudly. We had
something to read, but we were deprived of mate-
rials that gave any news about us.
As to our specific conditions, I can tell you it
could have been a lot worse. We were not mal-
treated, thanks to those who guarded us, who tried
to give us things within the limits of the restrictions
on them. We played cards....
We were very much in the dark about our status.
We didn't know where we stood. That was the
worst. We didn't. know ... when or whether we
were ever going to be released. In fact, I know that
those left behind and others still in captivity in
places I'm not aware of ... quite possibly don't
know that I've been released. But I guess they'll
have hope if they know I've been released.
What does freedom mean to you?
Freedom is something that, believe it or not, nei-
ther me nor my two associates spent a lot of time
thinking about. It's a bit like you wish you had a T-
bone steak in front of you. Knowing you were not
going to get it right away makes you more hungry,
makes you want that steak more. So we didn't
spend time thinking or talking about when we'd be
freed.
Our most difficult assignment was to find things
to think about. To keep our minds active so we
didn't begin to vegetate. I don't know what psychol-
ogists say about this. My belief is that part of the
symptom of a mind beginning to stray and go bad to
the point of danger, is the loss of anger. I was angry
at what was done to me, at being taken away from
my wife and family, my friends and students. And so
I strived to continue to be angry, knowing at all
times that if I began to lose that anger I would just
sort of become a vegetable, and I didn't want that to
happen.
What do you want to say to the world?
One thing I probably should say is that I was a little
bit surprised to find out that the specific demand
these men [the kidnappers] are making and want
the world to know seems to be precisely the same
they made about two weeks after our kidnapping,
when Alann Steen made the videotape-releasing
the 400 prisoners held in Israeli jails. We seem right
back at ground zero.
One of the last words I heard today from one of
them as they went out was that was still their de-
mand. I don't know if it's still the same 400 prison-
ers or others.
Besides that, I don't think I have any other mes-
sages that I'm supposed to be carrying to the people
or governments of the world or the United
Nations.... As I say, this is rather surprising. I'd
have thought things would have changed over the
three years, that some of those prisoners got re-
leased, I don't know.
What are your plans for the future?
I really don't have any plans for the future yet, ex-
cept to see my wife, mother, sons and friends and
family-people I haven't seen in three years, or 39
months, and together talk about things like that.
About the future.
it organization that is believed
dude Islamic Jihad for the Lib-
:)n of Palestine and other hos-
holding groups.
(hill's release apparently sig-
that the pro-Rafsanjani faction
at least temporarily, gained the
r hand. .
ria, which has 40,000 troops in
anon, helped obtain the New
_er's freedom because of
:d's desire to see Improved ties
the United States. Syria has
-d itself isolated because of the
apse of its Communist allies in
:ern Europe last fall and be-
e of changes in Soviet foreign
zy. Although its ties with.Mos-
remain close, Syria may not be
to count on the militappove
Bush Expresses Good Will
Reuter
Excerpts from President
Bush's news conference after the
release of hostage Robert Polhill:
... Is this the sort of ges-
ture from Iran, of good will
from Iran ... ?
I'm not looking for gestures.
I'm looking for the release of
our hostages. And by our hos-
tages, I mean all of them. But in
from the hostage families. It's
very important to me that we
do, because I want them to
know exactly how much anxiety
I feel about their loved ones still
being held, but we're not going
to change our policy, and we are
going to say that we're grateful
to those that facilitate the re-
turn of Mr. Polhill, but there are
seven other Americans that are
held against their will ....
terms of good will, I must say in Do you also hold the
my heart I have good will to- Iranians responsible for the
FlWr is 0 by RtIA- W9 8 102000
tive roe in is re ease .... I'm not, I don't want to assign
IN CAPTIVITY
U.S. HOSTAGES IN LEBANON
^ Terry Anderson, chief
Middle East correspondent
for the Associated Press,
kidnapped March 16,
1985, in West Beirut.
^ Thomas Sutherland,
acting dean of agriculture
at the American University
of Beirut, June 9, 1985.
^ Frank Herbert Reed,
American director of the
Lebanese International
School, Sept. 9, 1986.
a Joseph James Cicippio,
acting comptroller at the
American University of Bei-