The Stara Planina order, Bulgaria's highest honour, would be granted to European commissioner for external relations Benito Ferrero-Waldner on Monday September 17, eubusiness.com announced.

She was to receive the award for her "outstanding role in solving the case of the Bulgarian medics in Libya and their return to Bulgaria," a press statement from President Purvanov's press office said.

The medics had been accused of infecting 400 Libyan children with the AIDS virus and were sentenced to life-in-prison after a trial that took eight years.
In July they were transferred to Sofia after negotiations by Benito Ferrero-Waldner and Cecilia Sarkozy, and subsequently pardoned and released by Presiden Purvanov.

Ferrero-Waldner would be made an "honorary citizen of Sofia" by Boiko Borrisov, a Municipal press office press statement said.

In July Sofia's municipal council voted to award the title to both Ferrero-Waldner and French first lady Cecilia Sarkozy "for their staunchness, strength and determination during negotiations with Libya and their unique contribution to the release of the Bulgarian medics."

Ferrero-Waldner will give a public lecture at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski on September 17.