BULGARIAN MFA TRANSMITS REQUEST FOR TRANSFER OF MEDICS TO

UNCLAS SOFIA 000867

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/NCE MNORDBERG

REF: A) Sofia 861, B) Sofia 846

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM LY BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIAN MFA TRANSMITS REQUEST FOR TRANSFER OF MEDICS TO
EMBASSY IN TRIPOLI: BALL IN LIBYA'S COURT (AGAIN)



1. (SBU) Bulgarian MFA Middle East and Africa Office Director Petko
Doykov confirmed July 19, that the MFA had transmitted to the
Bulgarian Embassy in Tripoli the official request for transfer of
the medics under the bilateral Legal Assistance Agreement. He would
not confirm when the request was sent, stating that it was
"classified" information, but that the Embassy was in possession of
the documents. Asked if the Embassy had submitted the request to
the Libyan MFA, Doykov said that he "hoped so." Regarding timing of
the transfer, Doykov said that he would not speculate; it is now up
to the Libyans. MFA spokesman Dimitar Tsanchev also confirmed to
the local press that the MFA "had sent the request for transfer to
the Libyan authorities," without elaborating on timing or
procedures.

2. (SBU) On June 18, Embassy contacts reported that the requests for
the nurses had been finalized, but not for the Palestinian doctor
because his family had not yet given authorization. When questioned
about this, Doykov asserted that the doctor was a Bulgarian citizen
and that "all six would be diligently covered." Tshanchev also
clarified this point in his July 19 press brief. Asked if he
expected that the Libyans would wait until the anticipated visit of
French President Sarkozy to finalize a deal, Doykov responded that
he couldn't say what the Libyans and French were "cooking up."
BEYRLE