The release and return to Bulgaria of the six Bulgarian medics imprisoned for eight years in Libya on HIV-infection charges is a big foreign policy success of the Bulgarian state and Bulgarian diplomacy, Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev said at the annual conference of the heads of this country's diplomatic representations abroad July 25.

Stanishev said that the return of the medics to Bulgaria was an illustration of Bulgaria's EU membership, and shows the meaning of European solidarity and support., according to Focus news agency.

Over the past years, Bulgaria has made great efforts to assist the imprisoned medics. Only after Bulgaria's accession to the EU did the situation evolve from a bilateral issue into one that had implications for Libya and the EU, he said.

The development of the case provided highly useful training for the Bulgarian diplomacy, he observed. He voiced his gratitude to the involved non-governmental organizations and initiatives and the media and emphasized the contribution of all international partners.

According to leader of Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria Ivan Kostov, speaking to jouralists from Focus news agency, the freedom of the medics was secured because Bulgaria is now part of a family of free countries.