13.4.2007

Mep Nomination Of Bulgaria’s Nurses To Hinder Trial Developments In Libya

Nominating the Bulgarian nurses sentenced to death in Libya for the upcoming members of European Parliament (MEP) elections in Bulgaria was going to have negative impact on the trial, Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin said.

The nominations resulted from the ambition of some parties to use the medics as a tool to boost their political influence, Kalfin said.

Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry has never considered cancelling agreements for co-operation with Libya, Kalfin said. Providing legal aid for the nurses features as an item in such agreements, he said as quoted by Focus news agency.
Kalfin said that the Foreign Ministry was working each day to guarantee a changed trial outcome. It was also carrying out talks with EU institutions to receive their support, Kalfin said.

Bulgaria was expecting the next court sitting in the process, Kalfin said.

In December 2006, the court in Tripoli found the nurses guilty of intentional HIV infection and sentenced them to death. The lawyers of the nurses will appeal the decision before Libya’s Supreme Court.

14:57 Fri 13 Apr 2007
http://www.sofiaecho.com/