ALGIERS, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Algerian authorities on Wednesday handed over freed Spanish hostage Gilbert Navarro to Spanish officials in a ceremony at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Algiers.
Fernando Moran Calvo-Sotelo, Spain's Ambassador to Algeria, and the Secretary-General of the Algerian Foreign Ministry, Lounes Magramane, attended the event.
In a statement to the media, Navarro expressed his gratitude to Algeria for securing his release, noting that he remains in shock and needs a few days of rest to regain his serenity.
The Foreign Ministry's secretary-general reaffirmed Algeria's condemnation of all acts of violence and terrorism worldwide, stressing that the country spared no effort in securing Navarro's freedom.
Magramane also urged the international community to unite against terrorism and cut its financial resources.
Navarro, who was on a tourist trip, was abducted on Jan. 14 in the Algerian-Malian border by an armed group of five individuals.
His release was announced earlier Tuesday by the Azawad Liberation Front, a coalition of Tuareg separatist groups in northern Mali.
Following his release, Navarro was flown late Tuesday from Tin Zouatin Airport in southern Algeria on a private aircraft to Boufarik military airbase, 40 km south of Algiers. ■
