Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from Bulgaria Konstantin Dimitrov and Philip Dimitrov, together with their colleague Geoffrey Van Orden tabled an amendment to the European Parliament report on strategies for reforms in the Arab world.

The amendment calls for human rights respect as a pre-condition for the evolution of relations between EU countries and the Arab world.

Western countries respect cultural differences but at the same time call for human rights respect, the amendment said. Citizens of EU countries should not be subjected to unacceptable legal procedures and unjust verdicts, it said.

The amendment came in connection with the trial of the five Bulgarian nurses sentenced to death for intentional HIV infection in Libya, Focus news agency reported.

Konstantin Dimitrov said that guarantees were needed that no other EU citizen would pass through what the Bulgarian nurses had experienced.

The report was subjected to discussion and will be voted upon in March during a plenary session.