Brussels, 11/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - The EU expresses its “deep disappointment” at the verdict of the Libyan Supreme Court of 11 July, confirming the death penalty imposed on the five Bulgarian health workers and the Palestinian doctor charged with having knowingly injected 426 Libyan children with the AIDS virus at the end of 1990. In a declaration, the Portuguese presidency expresses the hope, however, that “this outcome does not represent the end of the legal process and notes that the Libyan High Judicial Council will meet on July 16th”. The High Judicial Council, under government control, has the power to change the penalty. Libyan authorities, however, have warned that the High Judicial Council would not agree to releasing the detainees unless a financial agreement were reached between the families of the contaminated children, who are asking for €10 million per child, and the EU. These unofficial talks are conducted by the Gadhafi Foundation which, on Tuesday evening, had already announced the conclusion of an agreement “to end the crisis”. “The presidency firmly hopes that the medical staff will benefit from a satisfactory decision reflecting the mutual respect and human solidarity that have been at the basis of the EU-Libya discussions on this issue”, the Portuguese presidency's Wednesday declaration reads, stressing the EU's resolve to pursue medical assistance for the Benghazi centre for infectious diseases and immunology. “I sincerely hope that clemency will be given to the health workers”, said Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the European external relations commissioner. (hb)