Raad van Europa bezorgd over mogelijke doodstraf voor Bulgaars ziekenhuispersoneel in Libië

STRASBOURG, 26.08.2005 - After a three-day visit to Libya, Tony Lloyd, (United Kingdom, SOC), the Parliamentary Assembly's rapporteur, spoke with satisfaction of his high-level meetings with Abdelrahman Shalgam, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nassar Al-Mabruk, Minister of Public Security, and Mohammed Zikree, Deputy Minister of Justice, concerning the fate of the five Bulgarian nurses who have been sentenced to death.

"Europe has shown very clearly that it is not indifferent to the appalling tragedy which has struck 426 Libyan children contaminated with the Aids virus and their families. Here we must pay tribute to those of our member states which have been discreetly providing the resources needed to accommodate, take care of, and treat groups of children. Whatever happens to the nurses, the sick children are already getting the treatment they need. The death sentence passed on five women who are clearly innocent of the crimes they are charged with, and have now been in prison for six and a half years, in no way relieves the suffering of the children and their families. Libya has nothing to gain by adding a second tragedy to the first", said Tony Lloyd.

Tony Lloyd told the Libyan authorities of his deep disappointment at not being allowed to meet the five nurses. In his view, there is no doubt that the court proceedings since 1999 have had numerous flaws and many grey areas. "I cannot say that my talks brought clear answers to some of my questions, particularly those concerning the serious allegations of torture, which the nurses reportedly suffered during their first few months in prison."

The Libyan Supreme Court will be giving judgment on 15 November. "It's the last-chance verdict. I hope that the Court will overturn the judgment and refer the case to a new court, which can judge it impartially - and above all calmly," said Tony Lloyd.

Contact:

Communication Unit of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly

Tel. +33 3 88 41 31 93 Fax +33 3 90 21 41 34; e-mail: pace.com@coe.int