The Catalan kidnapped aid worker Alicia Gamez landed yesterday at El Prat airport with the Spanish Secretaria de Estado de Cooperación Internacional, Soraya Rodriguez, and her brother Germain, after she was released following 101 days as a hostage in the desert of Mali (read the article in Castilian here, La Vanguardia). Gamez read a brief statement in which she mentioned the health of her two colleagues that are still being held and said that her happiness would only be complete when Albert Vilalta and Roque Pasqual are also released. Gamez went on to say that all three "had been well treated and respected within the constraints of the desert". She expressed her appreciation for the efforts made by different institutions to secure her release, and for the support of Catalan and Spanish society. She also requested that the media respect her need for rest and to have private time with her family. While confirming the release of Gamez, the Spanish deputy prime minister, María Teresa Fernández de la Vega, said that no ransom had been paid for her release. At a press conference, De la Vega confirmed that the other two hostages were in good health, and added "We would have preferred that the release was complete." She went on to say that the "main concern of the government is that they use all means available to ensure they return home in the shortest time possible".