Geneva, 20 February 1998

The High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Executive Director of UNICEF and the Executive Director of WFP are deeply concerned at the plight of their colleague from UNHCR, Vincent Cochetel, who was abducted from his residence in Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia, on the night of 29 January and whose whereabouts are still unknown.

Mary Robinson, Carol Bellamy and Catherine Bertini join the High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata, in appealing to those responsible to release Mr Cochetel, who is the head of UNHCR operations in North Ossetia, in the Russian Federation.

The attack on a UNHCR colleague is an attack on all UN and international organisations which work in areas of conflict attempting to relieve suffering and uphold human rights and international humanitarian law.

The three heads of Offices appeal to those responsible for the abduction to release Mr Cochetel unharmed and ask for greater efforts by governments and local authorities to ensure the security of their staff.