[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 733 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 733

 Calling on the Government of Libya to review the legal actions taken 
               against several Bulgarian medical workers.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 20, 2004

    Mr. Bereuter (for himself, Mr. Wexler, and Mr. Wilson of South 
Carolina) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                  Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Calling on the Government of Libya to review the legal actions taken 
               against several Bulgarian medical workers.

Whereas on February 9, 1999, Libyan authorities detained a group of Bulgarian 
        medical workers stationed at the Al-Fatih hospital in Benghazi;
Whereas in March 1999, Libyan authorities notified the Government of Bulgaria 
        that 5 members of the group of medical workers were being detained on a 
        warrant accusing the medical workers of participating in a foreign 
        intelligence-supported conspiracy against Libya by infecting over 400 
        Libyan children at the Al-Fatih hospital with blood products 
        contaminated with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV);
Whereas in February 2002, after a period of investigation, the Libyan People's 
        Court decided that there was not enough evidence to substantiate the 
        accusations of conspiracy against Libya and dismissed the case referring 
        it back to the criminal court in Benghazi where the medical workers were 
        prosecuted for deliberately causing HIV infections of the children;
Whereas throughout the lengthy trial, which was marked by accusations of 
        irregularities and gross violations of Libyan law on the part of the 
        prosecution and the court itself, numerous experts in the area of HIV/
        AIDS testified that there was inadequate and inconsistent evidence 
        offered to affirm that the children were deliberately infected by the 
        medical workers;
Whereas on May 6, 2004, the criminal court found the 5 Bulgarian medical workers 
        guilty of deliberately infecting the Libyan children with HIV and 
        sentenced them to death by firing squad;
Whereas the United States Government, the European Union, and the Council of 
        Europe have all expressed deep concerns with respect to the conduct of 
        the investigation and trial of the medical workers and the lack of 
        compelling evidence to suggest that the defendants had any involvement 
        in the HIV epidemic; and
Whereas in the process of developing bilateral relations with the Government of 
        Libya, the treatment of United States citizens and foreign nationals 
        living or working in Libya, and in particular the resolution of the 
        matter involving the Bulgarian medical workers, should be a factor in 
        considering further improvements in United States-Libyan relations: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses its sympathies for those Libyan children 
        infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and its 
        condolences to the families of those children who have died 
        from the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS);
            (2) raises serious concerns regarding the conduct and 
        fairness of the investigations and trial and the lack of 
        compelling evidence regarding the allegations of criminal 
        intent on the part of the Bulgarian medical workers;
            (3) expresses its deep dismay over the recent verdict by 
        the Libyan court and the harsh sentence imposed on the 
        Bulgarian medical workers and urges the Government of Libya to 
        review the case, reconsider the verdict, and consider the 
        possibility of withdrawing the charges and releasing the 
        defendants; and
            (4) affirms the support of the United States for the 
        Government of Bulgaria and its efforts to reach a just and 
        final resolution of this matter.
                                 <all>