France's last hostage in Mali returned home Wednesday after three years in captivity by al-Qaida's north African arm AQIM.

Serge Lazarevic, 50, was welcomed by French President Francois Hollande and his relatives at the Villacoublay airport in western Paris. Lazarevic stressed that "freedom is the most priceless thing."

"Life is beautiful, to be freed again. I forgot what freedom is. Don't ever forget," he said.

Hollande welcomed Lazarevic back to France. "Welcome, Serge Lazarevic. We have been waiting for you for three years. Three years you have suffered. You are back. It is a joy to welcome you back," he said.

Lazarevic, a French national of Serbian origin, was released Tuesday. He was kidnapped by AQIM on the night of Nov. 24, 2011, together with Phillippe Verdon who was killed two years after. They were reportedly taking a business trip for a cement project, but were abducted from their hotel in Hombori.

French nationals and interests have been the target of Islamist fighters after Paris conducted military operations in Afghanistan, Mali and recently in Iraq.

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