Photo by Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Let's talk about the meeting at the top in Washington between the US and the EU. At the meeting the two parties announced that the States and Europe will put much more efforts for the release of the Bulgarian medics and the Palestinian doctor, who are sentenced to death in Libya.
Bulgria's Ambassador to the US Elena Poptodorova shared her views and experience on the issue of the Libya-jailed Bulgarian nurses. The issue was widely discussed at the US-EU meeting at the top in Washington last week.
Evgenia Marcheva from Darik Radio talked to Mrs. Poptodorova*
Q: How do you read this political message?
A: Supporting this cause has been a long process. I can claim that the support I feel coming from Washington springs out from all institutions and on all levels. Even George Bush declared his support back in 2005. The important thing that happened is that the issue of the nurses was included in the final documents of the meeting. The Bulgarian diplomacy has been trying to achieve that for a long time and it finally happened, because the country is now a EU member state. Whatever the case, I hope this year will bring a final and a positive result on the travesty HIV case.
Q: What nurtures your hopes that this will be the last year the nurses will spend in Libya?
A: This is the wish that all Bulgarians keep and we constantly hope, but I cannot engage myself with giving a final time line. Even the American experts don't want to do it. My hope is nurtured by the fact that there is much support and reactions from all sides - institutions, countries, etc. This must finally lead to some positive change in the environment.
Q: Many has been done in medics' support, but is there anything more to be done and said?
A: I assume a further resolution will be sought to make Libya change its approach. This means further talks, lending help to the families of the infected children...
*Translated by Lora Petrova, Sofia News Agency