VARIOUS: European Union and Palestinian leadership welcome Libya's decision not to execute five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor

European Union and Palestinian leadership welcome Libya's decision not to execute five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor, but want them released. Bulgaria and the European Union called on Libya on Wednesday (July 18) to transfer six foreign medics to Sofia after the death sentences against them were commuted to life imprisonment. The five Bulgarian nurses and the Palestinian doctor have spent more than eight years in jail since being found guilty by a Libyan court of infecting children with HIV. The death sentences were commuted after hectic diplomatic talks and the payment by a Libyan foundation of one million U.S. dollars to each of the 460 HIV victims' families. EU newcomer Bulgaria and its allies in Washington and Brussels, who say the medics are innocent and have pushed for their release say it is not the end to the eight-year ordeal. EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Walnder said her first feeling was relief but the second feeling was of not being satisfied as she had hoped for clemency. She said she had hoped to embrace the nurses "very soon". EU Consumer Protection Commissioner Meglena Kuneva, from Bulgaria, said the case showed how important it was to be united in the European Commission and to speak with one voice. Palestinian chief negotiatior Saeb Erekat, who met EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana in Ramallah on Wednesday, praised the Libyan legal system and expressed gratitude that the death sentence had been cancelled. He now hoped a final solution could be found. The medics say they are innocent and confessions central to their case were extracted under torture. Fifty-six of the children have died, arousing widespread anger in Libya. A spokesperson for the Libyan children's families, Idriss Lagha, said the funds for the financial settlement had come from the Benghazi International Fund, which had been financed by the European Union, the United States, Bulgaria and Libya. Bulgaria, the EU and the United States say Libya has used the medics as scapegoats to deflect criticism of its dilapidated health care sector. Foreign HIV experts testified that the infections started before the six arrived at the hospital and were more likely to be the result of poor hygiene. Last month, Bulgaria granted citizenship to the Palestinian doctor to help bring him out of Libya if the death penalties were commuted. Portugal, which currently holds the presidency of the European Union (EU), has welcomed Libya's decision to lift the death sentences against the six. Portuguese Foreign Minister Luis Amado said on Wednesday that Portugal had been working closely with the EU and the Libyan government to achieve a satisfactory solution in the case. "So we welcome this decision, commuting the verdict of death penalty" he said. But he now expected extradition agreements with Bulgaria to be implemented "as soon as possible". Amado told Reuters if a quick response to the situation could be found he believed it could improve significantly relations between the European Union and Libya.

ITN Source | July 18, 2007

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