Libya frees foreign HIV medics
{{date|July 24, 2007}}{{Libya}}
[[Image:Symbol HIV trial Bulgarian nurses Lybia.jpg|left|thumb|110px|"Freedom for the Bulgarian Nurses" symbol.{{Image source|www.nestesami.bg}}]]
[[Libya]] has freed six foreign medical personnel who were convicted of infecting hundreds of Libyan children with [[HIV]] and sentenced to {{w|Capital punishment|death}}. In jail since 1999, the five [[Bulgaria|Bulgarian]] nurses and one [[Palestine|Palestinian]] doctor arrived in {{w|Sofia}}, Bulgaria, today. The president of Bulgaria, {{w|Georgi Parvanov}}, promptly pardoned them.

All six have maintained their innocence throughout. They have also claimed that they suffered {{w|torture}} to extract {{w|Confession (legal)|confessions}}. International HIV experts testified at the trials that the infections began before the six arrived at the Benghazi hospital. They said the infections were more likely the result of poor hygiene.

Last week, Libya lifted the death sentences following a {{w|United States dollar|US$}}460 million financial settlement, which works out to US$1 million to each HIV victim's family. However, Libya insisted on further concessions on {{w|International relations|relations}} with the [[European Union]] and aid.

A deal between the E.U. and Libya, mediated by [[Qatar]], ended the diplomatic standoff. The foreign minister of Libya, {{w|Abdel Rahman Shalgham}}, said the E.U. promised to provide "life-long treatment" to the infected children, as well as aid to "improve the Benghazi hospital" where the children were infected. Further, he claimed that deal will allow for "full cooperation and partnership between Libya and the European Union."

"We hope to go on further [in] normalising our relations with Libya. Our relations with Libya were to a large extent blocked by the non-settlement of this medics issue," said  {{w|José Manuel Barroso}}, {{w|President of the European Commission|President}} of the {{w|European Commission}}.

The president of [[France]], [[Nicolas Sarkozy]], said that neither the E.U. nor France paid money to Libya. He also said he would visit Libya on Wednesday to help {{w|Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli}}'s reintegration. "I can quite simply confirm to you that neither Europe nor France have made the slightest financial contribution to Libya," said Sarkozy to reporters in [[Paris]]. "I have had the opportunity to thank the Qatari authorities very warmly for their mediation and their humanitarian intervention."

{{w|Benita Ferrero-Waldner}}, the {{w|European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy|European Commissioner for External Relations}}, said: "I share the joy of their families and friends and of the government and people of Bulgaria. For over eight years, we have never forgotten the suffering of the medical staff who have shown such dignity and fortitude during their long ordeal."

"Now I still can't believe that I am standing on Bulgarian soil. We were told the news at four o'clock in the morning and we left the jail at quarter to six to board the plane. Now I will try to get my previous life back," said [[w:HIV trial in Libya#Kristiyana Vulcheva|Kristiyana Vulcheva]], 48, upon her release at the airport.
{{haveyoursay}}
==Related news==
*{{wikinews|title=Libya lifts death sentences for nurses but makes demands|date=July 23, 2007}}
*{{wikinews|title=Libyan court upholds death sentence for foreign medics in HIV case|date=July 11, 2007}}

==Sources==
{{wikipediapar|HIV trial in Libya}}
*{{source|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL2455707320070724
|title=HIV medics freed from Libya after 8-year ordeal
|author=Anna Mudeva
|pub=Reuters
|date=July 24, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/libya/story/0,,2133643,00.html
|title=EU to boost Libya ties after Bulgarian medics freed
|author=Mark Tran
|pub=Guardian Unlimited
|date=July 24, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/418B5984-C2F7-435E-8717-AEFDBDBE9964.htm
|title=Bulgaria pardons freed medics
|author=
|pub=Al Jazeera
|date=July 24, 2007}}

{{publish}}
{{archived}}

[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Health]]
[[Category:AIDS]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Bulgaria]]
[[Category:Middle East]]
[[Category:Libya]]
[[Category:Palestine]]
[[Category:Africa]]
[[Category:Benghazi]]
[[Category:Sofia]]
[[Category:European Commission]]

[[de:Fünf bulgarische Krankenschwestern und ein palästinensischer Arzt aus Libyen ausgewiesen]]
[[es:Libia libera a las cinco enfermeras búlgaras y el médico palestino tras ocho años de detención]]
[[fr:La Libye libère, après huit ans de détention, les cinq infirmières bulgares et le médecin palestinien]]
[[it:Libia: rilasciate e graziate le infermiere bulgare]]
[[pl:Bułgaria: pielęgniarki i lekarze oskarżeni o wywołanie epidemii AIDS ułaskawieni]]
"Freedom for the Bulgarian Nurses" symbol.
Libya has freed six foreign medical personnel who were convicted of infecting hundreds of Libyan children with HIV and sentenced to death. In jail since 1999, the five Bulgarian nurses and one Palestinian doctor arrived in Georgi Parvanov, promptly pardoned them.

All six have maintained their innocence throughout. They have also claimed that they suffered Confession (legal)|confessions. International HIV experts testified at the trials that the infections began before the six arrived at the Benghazi hospital. They said the infections were more likely the result of poor hygiene.

Last week, Libya lifted the death sentences following a US$460 million financial settlement, which works out to US$1 million to each HIV victim's family. However, Libya insisted on further concessions on relations with the European Union and aid.

A deal between the E.U. and Libya, mediated by Qatar, ended the diplomatic standoff. The foreign minister of Libya, , said the E.U. promised to provide "life-long treatment" to the infected children, as well as aid to "improve the Benghazi hospital" where the children were infected. Further, he claimed that deal will allow for "full cooperation and partnership between Libya and the European Union."

"We hope to go on further in normalising our relations with Libya. Our relations with Libya were to a large extent blocked by the non-settlement of this medics issue," said  President of the European Commission|President of the .

The president of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, said that neither the E.U. nor France paid money to Libya. He also said he would visit Libya on Wednesday to help Tripoli's reintegration. "I can quite simply confirm to you that neither Europe nor France have made the slightest financial contribution to Libya," said Sarkozy to reporters in Paris. "I have had the opportunity to thank the Qatari authorities very warmly for their mediation and their humanitarian intervention."

European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy|European Commissioner for External Relations, said: "I share the joy of their families and friends and of the government and people of Bulgaria. For over eight years, we have never forgotten the suffering of the medical staff who have shown such dignity and fortitude during their long ordeal."

"Now I still can't believe that I am standing on Bulgarian soil. We were told the news at four o'clock in the morning and we left the jail at quarter to six to board the plane. Now I will try to get my previous life back," said Kristiyana Vulcheva, 48, upon her release at the airport.

de:Fünf bulgarische Krankenschwestern und ein palästinensischer Arzt aus Libyen ausgewiesen
es:Libia libera a las cinco enfermeras búlgaras y el médico palestino tras ocho años de detención
fr:La Libye libère, après huit ans de détention, les cinq infirmières bulgares et le médecin palestinien
it:Libia: rilasciate e graziate le infermiere bulgare
pl:Bułgaria: pielęgniarki i lekarze oskarżeni o wywołanie epidemii AIDS ułaskawieni
Politics and conflicts Health AIDS Europe Bulgaria Middle East Libya Palestine Africa Benghazi Sofia European Commission