"We are delighted and relieved by the news that Ingrid Betancourt and fourteen other hostages held by the Farc in Colombia have been freed. This is a moment of joy for them, for their families and for all the people across the world who never gave up the campaign for their freedom". This is the statement of Terry Davis, Secretary General and Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe relating to the liberation of Ingrid Betancourt and other hostages in Colombia. "Our thoughts are now with the hundreds of people who are still being held by the Colombian rebels, and we hope that their day of freedom will come very soon". Also the president of the Parliamentary Assembly (Pace) Lluís Maria de Puig today welcomed the freeing of Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages with great pleasure and relief. "On behalf of the Assembly, I should like to convey to Ms Betancourt and her family our happiness, our friendship and our full solidarity after so many years in captivity. Her commitment, courage and dignity remain an example for the many hostages still held, and for all of us. Her release is a victory for freedom. I encourage the Colombian government to continue to make every effort to have all the hostages freed, and I again call on the FARC to release the many people they have been holding for much too long".
