Press Release: Statement by the Spokesperson of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the freeing of hostages in Yemen

The High Representative Catherine Ashton on 10 May 2013 expressed her relief that the three EU citizens, an Austrian and two Finns, held hostage in Yemen since 21 December 2012, have been freed. She expresses her gratitude to the Omani authorities and to Yemeni President Hadi and his transitional government who worked tirelessly, in close cooperation with the EU and particularly with the Finnish and Austrian authorities, to end the hostages' more than four month long ordeal.