On landing in Sofia, however, they were pardoned by the Bulgarian President, Georgi Parvanov.

He was Chairman of the IT Advisory Committee to the Bulgarian President (March 2002 - January 2012).

Georgy Parvanov, the Bulgarian President, broke his country silence on a policy that "ascribed guilt according to ethnicity".

Although the office of the Bulgarian President is largely representative and executive power lies within the government, Georgi Parvanov has played an active political role.

On Wednesday, the new Bulgarian President, Petar Stoyanov, made an impassioned appeal to the European Union.

No Bulgarian President has ever been impeached.

In January 1992 general presidential elections were held and Zhelev became the first Bulgarian President to be democratically elected during general elections, serving his second full five-year term until January 1997.

Mr. Zhelev, the new Bulgarian President, has offered no new insights.

This latest session of the talks had been suspended on March 28 because of sharp disagreement over when and how the new Bulgarian President should be elected.

The former leader agreed in writing last week to make statements and answer questions before the Parliament soon after it chooses a new Bulgarian President.