Brussels, 13/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - The EU high representative for foreign affairs, Catherine Ashton, states in a press release: “I welcome the news that Gilad Shalit will soon be able to return home after five years of captivity, putting an end to the long ordeal that he and his family have endured”. She also paid tribute to the “work of all those who have worked tirelessly to secure his release, and in particular the Egyptian and German negotiators”. In return for the release of the Franco-Israeli soldier, who was taken prisoner on 25 June 2006, some thousand Palestinian prisoners are to be released. S&D Vice President Véronique De Keyser added: “The return of Gilad Shalit to his family and the return of 450 Palestinian prisoners, to be followed by 550 others in two months' time, to their families will be an important moment in the history of conflict and peace efforts between Israelis and Palestinians”. (CG/transl.jl)