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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| HIV medics released to Bulgaria | HIV medics released to Bulgaria |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Six Bulgarian medics who were serving life sentences in Libya have arrived in Bulgaria following their release. | |
| The five nurses and a Palestinian-born doctor were convicted of deliberately infecting Libyan children with HIV - charges they have always denied. | The five nurses and a Palestinian-born doctor were convicted of deliberately infecting Libyan children with HIV - charges they have always denied. |
| The release follows years of diplomacy by EU officials and two trips to Libya by the new French president's wife. | The release follows years of diplomacy by EU officials and two trips to Libya by the new French president's wife. |
| An EU official told the BBC the release had been made possible by a deal struck in Tripoli on improving Libya-EU ties. | An EU official told the BBC the release had been made possible by a deal struck in Tripoli on improving Libya-EU ties. |
| It comes after years of efforts by the European Commission, with the EU's external affairs commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, making numerous trips to Libya, meeting the prisoners and working to improve the conditions for hundreds of children with HIV/Aids. | |
| In a joint statement, European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso and French President Nicolas Sarkozy welcomed the agreement. | |
| They paid tribute to the work of Ms Ferrero-Waldner, saying it would not have been possible without her determination, as well as the mediation of the emir of Qatar. | |
| Archaeological help | Archaeological help |
| According to EU officials the key to the agreement has been a memorandum signed in Tripoli by Ms Ferrero-Waldner, which would lead to the full normalisation of EU relations with Libya. | |
| The dramatic case with the sentenced innocent Bulgarian citizens is at its end. We are still sympathetic with the other tragedy - the one of the infected Libyan children and their families Bulgaria's President Georgi Parvanov Profiles: The medics | |
| The BBC's Oana Lungescu says it includes a pledge to open the European market to Libyan farm and fishery produce, technical assistance for the restoration of archaeological monuments and EU grants for Libyan students. | |
| It also included measures to improve the care of children with HIV/Aids in Libya, the French presidential palace said. | |
| Ms Ferrero-Waldner and Cecilia Sarkozy, the wife of France's President Nicolas Sarkozy, are on board the French government plane taking the Bulgarians home. | Ms Ferrero-Waldner and Cecilia Sarkozy, the wife of France's President Nicolas Sarkozy, are on board the French government plane taking the Bulgarians home. |
| Last week, the six had death sentences commuted to life in prison by Libya's top legal body. | Last week, the six had death sentences commuted to life in prison by Libya's top legal body. |
| The High Judicial Council ruling came after the families of the 438 children agreed a compensation deal reportedly worth $1m (£500,000) per child. | The High Judicial Council ruling came after the families of the 438 children agreed a compensation deal reportedly worth $1m (£500,000) per child. |
| Transfer deal | Transfer deal |
| Bulgaria had officially asked Libya to repatriate the medics so they could serve out their sentences in Bulgaria. | Bulgaria had officially asked Libya to repatriate the medics so they could serve out their sentences in Bulgaria. |
| Bulgaria's President Georgi Parvanov said he was satisfied with the release of the medics. | Bulgaria's President Georgi Parvanov said he was satisfied with the release of the medics. |
| The deal follows years of patient efforts by Mrs Ferrero-Waldner"The dramatic case with the sentenced innocent Bulgarian citizens is at its end. We are still sympathetic with the other tragedy - the one of the infected Libyan children and their families," he said. | The deal follows years of patient efforts by Mrs Ferrero-Waldner"The dramatic case with the sentenced innocent Bulgarian citizens is at its end. We are still sympathetic with the other tragedy - the one of the infected Libyan children and their families," he said. |
| The Palestinian doctor was granted Bulgarian citizenship last month to allow him to benefit from any transfer deal. | The Palestinian doctor was granted Bulgarian citizenship last month to allow him to benefit from any transfer deal. |
| The medics were convicted of deliberately injecting 438 children with HIV-tainted blood. Fifty-six children have since died. | The medics were convicted of deliberately injecting 438 children with HIV-tainted blood. Fifty-six children have since died. |
| The six, who have been in prison since 1999, say they were tortured to confess. | The six, who have been in prison since 1999, say they were tortured to confess. |
| Foreign experts say the infections started before the medics arrived at the hospital, and are more likely to have been a result of poor hygiene. | Foreign experts say the infections started before the medics arrived at the hospital, and are more likely to have been a result of poor hygiene. |
| Bulgaria, its allies in the European Union, and the United States say Libya has used the case to deflect criticism from its run-down health service. | Bulgaria, its allies in the European Union, and the United States say Libya has used the case to deflect criticism from its run-down health service. |