[07SOFIA867] BULGARIAN MFA TRANSMITS REQUEST FOR TRANSFER OF MEDICS TO EMBASSY IN TRIPOLI: BALL IN LIBYA’S COURT (AGAIN)

 date: 7/19/2007 14:09 refid: 07SOFIA867 origin: Embassy Sofia classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY destination:  header: VZCZCXRO7255 OO RUEHTRO DE RUEHSF #0867 2001409 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 191409Z JUL 07 FM AMEMBASSY SOFIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4000 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI  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