H. Res. 1383 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

September 9, 2008. 

Whereas on September 22, 1908, Bulgaria proclaimed its 

independence to become a full-fledged sovereign state 

under the name of the Kingdom of Bulgaria; 

Whereas this act marked the end of a long and dedicated 

struggle the Bulgarian people waged against their ageslong foreign occupier, the Ottoman Empire, which conquered the medieval Bulgarian state in the 14th Century; 

Whereas although liberated in 1878, Bulgaria remained divided and dependent on its formal ruler; 

Whereas with the proclamation of independence 100 years 

ago, Bulgaria took its rightful place among the family of 

nations and secured for its citizens in its constitution of 

1991 the right to life, freedom and property; 

Whereas the Republic of Bulgaria is a democratic nation, a 

strong defender of freedom and human rights, and a 

staunch ally of the United States; 

Whereas the United States established diplomatic relations 

with the Republic of Bulgaria on September 19, 1903; 

Whereas the United States acknowledges the courage of the 

Bulgarian people in deciding to pursue a free, democratic, and independent Bulgaria and their steadfast per-
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severance in building a society based on the rule of law, 

respect for human rights, and a free market economy; 

Whereas the people of the Republic of Bulgaria strive to preserve and continue their tradition of ethnic and religious 

tolerance; 

Whereas the Bulgarian Parliament, the Bulgarian Orthodox 

Church, King Boris III, politicians, intellectuals, and citizens all played a part in the resistance to Nazi pressure 

to carry out the deportation of Jews living in Bulgaria 

by preventing the deportation of 50,000 Jews to Nazi 

concentration camps; 

Whereas Bulgaria was the only European country during 

World War II to increase its Jewish population; 

Whereas Bulgaria experienced its first free election after the 

end of the Cold War in June 1990; 

Whereas North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) heads 

of state and member governments, meeting in Prague on 

November 21, 2002, invited Bulgaria into NATO after 

verified reforms of Bulgaria’s political, economic and 

military systems were completed in preparation for membership; 

Whereas Bulgaria was accepted as a member of NATO in 

April 2004, and has shown determination in enacting the 

continued reforms necessary to be a productive, contributing member of the Alliance; 

Whereas Bulgaria was welcomed into the European Union in 

January 2007; 

Whereas the World Bank recently classified Bulgaria as one 

of the top 10 nations to have undertaken important economic reforms to attract business investment; 
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Whereas Bulgaria is the only European Union nation to be 

listed in the top 10 of the World Bank’s classification; 

Whereas Bulgaria has promoted stability in the Balkans by 

rendering support to Operation Allied Force and Operation Joint Guardian led by NATO, and by providing 

peacekeeping troops to the Stabilization Force in Bosnia 

and Herzegovina (SFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 

and to the Kosovo Force (KFOR) in Kosovo; 

Whereas Bulgaria initiated a historic strengthening of military relations by inviting the United States Armed 

Forces to begin conducting joint exercises with its forces 

in Bulgaria, the first voluntary defense cooperation 

agreement with foreign troops throughout Bulgarian history, including the 1,300 years before its declaration of 

independence; and 

Whereas Bulgaria has stood firmly by the United States in 

the cause of advancing freedom worldwide during its tenure as a nonpermanent member of the United Nations 

Security Council: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) commends the Republic of Bulgaria for its efforts to strengthen relations with the United States over 

the past 100 years; 

(2) recognizes the continued contributions of Bulgaria toward bringing peace, stability, and prosperity to 

the region of South Eastern Europe, including its contributions to regional security and democratic stability; 
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(3) salutes the willing cooperation of Bulgaria and 

its increasingly vital role as a valuable ally in the war 

against international terrorism; and 

(4) encourages opportunities for greater cooperation 

between the United States and Bulgaria in the political, 

military, economic, and cultural spheres. 

Attest: 

Clerk.