Libya’s allegation that the pardon given to the six Bulgarian medics accused of deliberate HIV infection in Libya was illegal was groundless, Deputy Foreign Minister Feim Chaushev said.

According to Libyan authorities, the pardon given by Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov was illegal, a violation of international law and the judicial contract between Bulgaria and Libya.

Chaushev said that according to the contract between the two countries, convicts transferred to their home country had to serve the remaining period of their sentence there, but according to another clause of the contract, local law should be applied. The Bulgarian constitution gives the right to the President to grant pardons or reduce sentences, Chaushev said, as quoted by Focus news agency.

After the pardon, Libya called on the League of Arab States to convene an emergency summit of Arab foreign ministers to decide on breaking off diplomatic relations with Bulgaria. A decision is expected on July 30 2007.

Chaushev refused to predict what Arab foreign ministers’ decision would be. He said that through its conduct, Bulgaria had shown that it saw it as important to maintain good relations with all Arab countries.