Sommaire: EC Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner on Libyan Supreme Court decision on Bulgarian and Palestinian medical staff case (15 November 2005: Brussels)
The Libyan Supreme Court has today postponed to 31 January 2006 its decision on the case of the Bulgarian and Palestinian medical staff in prison in Libya since 1999, and sentenced to death in 2004. The staff were arrested following an epidemic of HIV/AIDS in Benghazi, which infected 400 children and their mothers.
Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said: "The postponement of the Supreme Court's judgement is a useful step, and we are counting on the Libyan judicial system to ensure that justice is done".
While respecting the independence of the Court, the EU has repeatedly called for the re-examination of the evidence which led to the conviction of the Bulgarian and Palestinian medics. The Commissioner said: "Since 1999, new techniques, and new information have become available to verify the charges against the medical staff. We believe that justice would be served if all these elements were taken into consideration by the Libyan Supreme Court".
The European Commission is keen to see a just and mutually acceptable solution as soon as possible, in view of the now very lengthy detention of the Bulgarian and Palestinian medics.
Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner has been a key player in maintaining close contacts with the Libyan Authorities on this affair, visiting Colonel Khadafi in May 2005 to call for the release of all the medical staff.
The EU welcomes indications that the Libyan Government is considering a moratorium on the application of the death sentence. The EU opposes the death sentence in all circumstances.
Separately from all consideration of the case of the Bulgarian and Palestinian medical staff, the European Commission has made €1 million available to provide urgent support to Libya in its fight against AIDS/HIV and treatment of those affected. These funds support an Action Plan to share with Libya the best of European medical expertise in the field. The plan is an act of solidarity with families of children suffering from the disease in Benghazi.
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