hite ” Approve rok ING dQ STAG AS) oAfg.of MANES A y eee puse — atement Associated Press -anscript of President 2's statement on the hos- release, read by White se press secretary Marlin water: We are pleased at. the 3 that Robert Polhill has » freed by his captors. are obviously happy for . for his family and for “riends. We also wish to thank se who had a hand in the ase, particularly the gov- ments of Syria and Iran, se efforts have contrib- * to the release of this age. Jur satisfaction at the ‘ase, however, is sub- atially tempered by the awledge that seven other ocent Americans, as well a number of foreign na- mals, are still being telly held hostage in Leb- om, “We cannot rest until all stages are free. Once ain we urgently call on all rties who hold hostages or 10 have any influence to ork to obtain the immedi- e and unconditional re- ase of the remaining hos- ges as a humanitarian ges- are.” « organization that is believed clude Islamic Jihad for the Lib- on of Palestine and other hos- holding groups. thill’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 zer’s freedom — because of «d's desire to see improved ties the United States. Syria has -d itself isolated because of the wpse of its Communist allies in zern Europe fast fall and be- ze of changes in Soviet foreign zy. Although its ties with Mos- remain close, Syria may not be = to count on the militayypypove “a 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. [’m still deeply concerned about my two friends and others whe 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, [ 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 yest 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, { 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 fot 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 Bush Expresses Good Will 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 [ 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 sarne 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? 1 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. IN CAPTIVITY U.S. HOSTAGES IN LEBANON a Terry Anderson, chief Reuter Excerpts from President Bush's news conference after the release of hostage Robert Polhill: - «ts this the sort of ges- ture from (ran, of good will fromiran...? Pm not looking for gestures. I'm looking for the release of. our hostages. And by our hos- tages, I mean ail of them. But in terms of good will, I must say in my heart I have good will to- tive se. from the hostage famities. 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 . . we» Do you also hold the lranians responsible for the FUP Re 4 0 W698 aS lA, ‘Hbpemonyesrtoeet) 102000 - role in tnis relea I’m not, I don’t want to assign Middle East correspondent for the Associated Press, kidnapped March 16, 1985, in West Beirut. a Thomas  Suthertand, acting dean of agriculture at the American University of Beirut, June 9, 1985. a 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-