Five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor convicted of infecting Libyan children with HIV landed in Sofia today after diplomatic talks secured their release from a Libyan jail.
Libya lifted death sentences against the medics last week and commuted them to terms of life imprisonment.
The medics, who spent more than eight years in Libyan jail, were brought back home on a French presidential jet and were accompanied by EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and French First Lady Cecilia Sarkozy. The two were in Tripoli to help free them.
Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov pardoned the six when they arrived in Sofia.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy insisted today that neither France nor the European Union made any payment to Libya for the release of the group.
Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern also welcomed the release of the medics.
"It has been a long time coming but I share the joy of the Bulgarian Government and people that this dreadful and tragic case has now been successfully resolved," Mr Ahern said.
"Ireland has consistently supported the Bulgarian Government's campaign to have the six freed, and I have been in frequent and close contact on the issue with the Bulgarian deputy prime mMinister and foreign minister, Ivailo Kalfin.
"While we are naturally delighted with this news, we remain keenly aware of the tragedy which has befallen 438 children in Benghazi who have been infected with HIV carried in contaminated blood. 56 of those children have died and our thoughts go out to their families and friends."
Mr Ahern said the European Commission and the Libyan authorities have agreed a framework to ensure that the children receive improved care in their fight against HIV/Aids and that Ireland is ready to contribute to that programme.
The European Union will now boost ties with Tripoli after the transfer of the medics.
"This decision will open the way for a new and enhanced relationship between the EU and Libya and reinforce our ties with the Mediterranean region and the whole of Africa," Mr Ferrero-Waldner said on arrival in Sofia .
Mr Ferrero-Waldner signed a two-page deal with Libya, laying out how ties could be boosted, and confirming the EU's offer of medical care for the infected children and the Benghazi hospital.
Several EU member states already have extensive trade ties with Libya but the EU has said resolving the dispute over the medics was a precondition for moving towards fuller ties.