I was disappointed to read the remarks attributed to the French journalist from Figaro who was freed after months being held by kidnappers in Iraq (The World, last week). He implied that French journalists were in different category from British journalists because of the different positions taken two years ago by London and Paris.

Leaving to one side that today all EU governments are working jointly on Iraq, it is dangerous that a journalist's passport somehow defines whether or not he or she can work in any part of the world. The British journalist James Brandon was kidnapped in August, and with the help of his paper, the Sunday Telegraph , and British officials he was freed.

I have paid tribute in France to the courage of the two French journalists and to the work of the French government in securing their release. But as a former NUJ president I would hope that we never get to a point where a journalist's nationality determined where reporters can or should work. An NUJ press card is all they should need.

And let us not forget that the real victims in Iraq remain Iraqi journalists, officials, and trade union leaders who are fighting for press and other freedoms Iraq should be able to enjoy.