For years, six innocent Bulgarian citizens were deprived of their liberty on unjust charges. In those years, the Bulgarian people showed enviable unity, solidarity and faith in justice, but this unprecedented case became not only a test for Bulgaria, but also for the moral strength of the international community. This was stated by the head of state Rumen Radev at a solemn ceremony today, at which he awarded the Presidential Badge of Honour to the British Ambassador to Libya in the period 2002-2006, Anthony Layden.
The award is presented to the diplomat for his exceptional services to Bulgaria, demonstrated through personal commitment and professional contribution to the release of the Bulgarian nurses, to the strengthening of friendly relations between Bulgaria and the United Kingdom, and to the affirmation of humane and European values ??in international relations.
In his greeting, the head of state noted that the story of the rescue of our medics in Libya will forever remain in the annals of modern Bulgarian statehood, and the unjust case against them was a severe national test. Their fate has become a symbol of human suffering, but also of the unbreakable faith that goodness and justice will triumph, said Rumen Radev. According to the head of state, in this difficult period, true friends have stood by our country, who have shown that European solidarity is more than a slogan. Europe, through people like H.E. Anthony Layden, has clearly shown that European solidarity is filled with deep content, interaction, mutual trust and support in the name of human dignity, the President also pointed out.
In his address, Rumen Radev highlighted the patience, valour and human empathy that Ambassador Layden displayed in moments when the fate of our compatriots seemed doomed. With his professionalism, personal authority and moral firmness, he has become a true bridge between two different cultures and value systems, between suffering and hope, the President said, adding that the diplomat had unequivocally shown during that period how dialogue and empathy can be stronger than political declarations. Ambassador Layden’s mandate in Libya went far beyond the scope of his official duty and became a true cause in defense of human life and justice, the Head of State emphasised.
Rumen Radev also highlighted the importance of the efforts made by Anthony Layden's wife, Josephine, at that time. The moral support and high erudition in communicating with the Libyan public of Mrs. Josephine Layden contributed to building trust and resolving this humane case, the president added, emphasizing the significant merits of the diplomat's wife in strengthening European solidarity and finding a favorable outcome to the case.
In his greeting, Rumen Radev also recalled the empathy and efforts shown by the then President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, and his wife for the release of the Bulgarian nurses. Today he is in prison and needs our support and empathy, with which to express our true gratitude, the president added. Head of State Rumen Radev expressed his support for the declarations of Presidents Petar Stoyanov (1997-2002) and Georgi Parvanov (2002-2012), former ministers, politicians and public figures who have taken the cause of Sarkozy's release as their duty and appealed to European politicians and public figures for his release.
Ambassador Anthony Layden, for his part, thanked for the award, emphasiding the difficulties that Bulgarian and European diplomacy faced in resolving the case of the Bulgarian medics in Libya. I do not feel that I deserve personal recognition, but given what was happening in Tripoli at that moment, I had the opportunity to help and I responded. I received a call with words of gratitude from the medics after their release and that was enough for me. I want to express my sincere gratitude for the honor you have bestowed on me. Thank you very much, Anthony Layden also said.