EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner on Thursday welcomed the release of four hostages by the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
"I am glad to hear that the FARC have handed over to the Venezuelan government four Colombian former members of Parliament who were held hostages for more than six years and are under ill health conditions," Ferrero-Waldner said in a statement.
"This was a humanitarian need," she said. "This liberation could be an encouraging step but we expect the immediate and unconditional liberation of all hostages, including Ingrid Betan court, on the path towards a global peace agreement."
The commissioner voiced the EU's support for and solidarity with the Colombian government in their commitment to searching for a negotiated, peaceful and lasting solution to the process.
The FARC turned over the four hostages in a jungle clearing on Wednesday to representatives of Venezuelan envoys and the Red Cross. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has been mediating the matter.
The four former legislators -- Luis Perez, Orlando Beltran, Eduardo Gechem and Gloria Polanco -- were part of 43 hostages held by the group which intends to swap some 500 FARC fighters imprisoned by the Colombian government.
On Jan. 10, FARC first released two Colombian hostages, Clara Rojas and Consuelo Gonzalez, also as a goodwill gesture to Chavez.
Source: Xinhua
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