Brussels, 11/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 11 June the European Commission hailed the release of Swiss national Max Göldi, who had been in prison in Libya since 22 February. In a press release, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton and EU Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström said: "We welcome the release of Swiss businessman Max Göldi from prison. We hope that Mr Göldi will be able to return very soon to Switzerland, to join his family and return to a normal life. His prompt return to his home country would be an important step on the way towards the resolution of the bilateral crisis between Libya and Switzerland. We are convinced that dialogue and positive gestures by both sides are key to resolving bilateral disputes." Max Göldi was arrested in response to the arrest in Geneva of a son of the Libyan leader, Colonel Ghadaffi, in 2008. Göldi was sentenced to four months in prison in February. He will be free to leave Libya on Saturday or Sunday. His release marks the end of a serious disagreement between Switzerland and Libya into which the EU had reluctantly been dragged. (B.C./transl.fl)