People who ignore travel advice will have to repay rescuers
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner wants to recover rescue costs from kidnap victims deemed to have ignored official advice, the Times reports.
“If people get themselves into difficulty and the State has to intervene, putting the lives of its own agents in danger, then it is legitimate in principle to be able to recover the money,” a Foreign Ministry spokesman told The Times.
“This is meant to be dissuasive. We’re concerned about public finances but we’re more concerned about the safety of French citizens.”
Deliberately exposed to risks
Under the legislation, submitted to the Cabinet this month, the State will be entitled to recover “all or part of the expenses ... for rescue operations abroad for people who have deliberately exposed themselves to risks which they could not ignore”.
The authorities will be able to take action against travel agents, shipping companies and insurance companies accused of encouraging journeys to areas deemed hazardous.
Officials will also be likely to sue travellers captured by pirates off Somalia under Mr Kouchner’s plan. The French military has intervened three times to free French vessels held by pirates in the past year.
The cost of ransom would not be included.
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