site.btaBook about Rescue of Bulgarian Medics in Libya Is Press Launched

A collection of first-person accounts and documents about the rescue of five Bulgarian medics sentenced to death in Libya was press launched on Wednesday.

At an official premiere held at the Peroto Literary Club in Sofia, the book “The Libyan Case: All Diplomatic Means” was presented.

The book traces the course of the international negotiations. Through first-person accounts and previously unpublished archival documents and photographs, the publication reconstructs the timeline of the main events that led to the release of the Bulgarian nurses - Kristiana Valcheva, Nasya Nenova, Valentina Siropulo, Valya Chervenyashka, and Snezhana Dimitrova.

“This evening we are brought together by a story of memory - the Libyan case,” said journalist Boyko Vassilev as he opened the event.

The press launch featured the editors of the publication, Tanya Mihaylova, Director of the Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), and journalist Georgi Milkov.

“Through the stories and archives revealed for the first time in this book, Georgi Milkov and I want to preserve the memory of those difficult eight years,” Mihaylova said. She noted that the book focuses solely on the diplomatic aspects of the case. “It includes accounts from diplomats and directors of the Middle East and Africa departments,” she added.

“More than 20 years ago, journalists and diplomats worked together on this case. I would call it a research adventure,” said journalist Georgi Milkov. He noted that he followed the case “on the ground” in Libya. “The book includes interviews with Romano Prodi, who was the Prime Minister of Italy and President of the European Commission; Marc Pierini, who was the EU representative on the ground and led the negotiations; as well as a group of foreign officials who were involved with our case in Libya,” he added.

The book’s publisher, Iliyan Andonov, said that the goal of creating the book was to present all the important documents and perspectives, noting that work on the book began more than two years ago.

“The book includes 200 documents and photographs related to the case, 48 of which are being published for the first time,” Andonov stated.

Joining the event via video conference was Cecilia Attias, the former wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy. “I am very proud that I was able to help, and I will remember it forever. This will always remain a national memory for me,” she shared. According to her, when she spoke with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, she felt no fear. “I had the will and strength to help free the Bulgarian nurses and the Palestinian doctor.”

Former British ambassador to Libya Anthony Layden also attended the book premiere. 

The premiere was also attended by one of the released nurses, Kristiana Valcheva, as well as former president Georgi Parvanov (2002–2012), former foreign ministers Solomon Passy and Nadezhda Neynski, and former justice minister Anton Stankov (2001–2005).