Released Tuesday by the Algerian security services, the spanish hostage Navarro Canada Joachim was handed over this Wednesday, January 22 to the authorities of his country during a brief ceremony organized at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Algiers.
The Spanish ambassador to Algeria thanked the Algerian authorities, emphasizing the “prominent role of Algeria” in the fight against terrorism.
“I am in a state of shock, I would need a few days to recover a state of calm,” declared the now ex-hostage, not without expressing his gratitude to the action of the Algerian authorities, at their head the President of the Republic.
Kidnapped a few days ago in the far south of Algeria, on the borders with Mali, Joachim was released on Tuesday January 21.
The “security services of the National People's Army, preceded this Tuesday, January 21, 2025, with the reception of the Spanish national Navaro Canada Joaquim”, announced the Ministry of National Defense in a press release.
The Spanish national was transported to Algiers aboard a plane which landed at the Boufarik military airport.
Algeria has a rich record in the release of hostages
This Wednesday morning, he was at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, surrounded by Lounès Magramane, secretary general of the ministry, and Fernando Moran Calvo-Sotelo, ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain in Algeria.
The ex-Spanish hostage is still in shock, but he is doing well. Above all, he is very happy.
“We thank all the security services and officials of the Ministry of National Defense for their continued efforts to free the hostage. From the first moments of the kidnapping, the country's high authorities gave instructions to make every effort to locate the hostage, free him and ensure his integrity,” declared Mr. Magramane from the outset.
“The Spanish authorities were kept informed in real time of the progress of the search operations. We express our deep gratitude and we extend our thanks to the parties who participated and contributed to preserving the safety of the Spanish citizen who is among us today, in good health,” he added.
-The SG of the MAE recalled Algeria's “rich record” in this type of humanitarian action, which has “contributed on numerous occasions to the release of hostages and played the role of active intermediary in actions which preserve human life and avoid sad tragedies.”
Magramane took the opportunity to reiterate Algeria's condemnation of all “the violent practices and criminal actions of terrorist groups active in the region and across the world”, reaffirming the need to “combine efforts to fight against terrorism and all actions that serve to finance criminal activities.
Mr. Magramane also welcomed the Spanish side which, according to him, “expressed, as soon as it was informed, its total confidence in the Algerian authorities to reach the hostage and free him”.
“We also salute the courage and patience of the hostage and his family in this difficult ordeal,” he concluded his speech.
“Algeria has a prominent role in the fight against terrorism”
“The Spanish authorities and I warmly welcome the happy outcome of the incident of which Mr. Navaro Canada Joaquima was the victim,” said the Spanish ambassador to Algeria.
Fernando Morán Calvo-Sotelo “warmly” thanked the Algerian authorities for “their contribution and all the measures they took to obtain this outcome”.
“In any case, once again, for Spain, Algeria has a prominent role in the fight against terrorism and in guaranteeing the security of all of us,” he recognized.
“I am very happy to be here”, declared for his part the ex-hostage who, too, expressed his great gratitude to the Algerian authorities “for their kindness”, particularly thanking the President of the Republic, “ knowing that he is always present.”
Navaro Canada Joaquim is happy, well, but he admitted that he is still in shock. “I ask you to please understand and apologize, this is a complicated moment for me. I ask you for this understanding. In fact, I am still in a state of shock and I would need a few days to be able to recover a state of calm and tranquility that I really need,” he said, assuring that he was “felt really welcomed, really loved.”
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