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[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 355 Introduced in House (IH)]

108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 355

Commemorating the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the 
                      United States and Bulgaria.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 4, 2003

   Mr. Wilson of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. Bereuter, and Mrs. 
Tauscher) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                  Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Commemorating the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the 
                      United States and Bulgaria.

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 perseverance in building a society based on the rule of law, 
        respect for human rights, and a free market economy;
Whereas Bulgaria has promoted stability in the Balkans by rendering support to 
        Operation Allied Force and Operation Joint Guardian led by the North 
        Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and by providing peacekeeping 
        troops to Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (SFOR) in Bosnia 
        and Herzegovina, and to Kosovo Force (KFOR) in Kosovo;
Whereas Bulgaria was among the very first countries to denounce terrorism and 
        pledge active support to the United States in the fight against 
        terrorism following the events of September 11, 2001;
Whereas Bulgaria provided overflight and basing rights at the town of Bourgas 
        for Operation Enduring Freedom, representing the first stationing of 
        foreign forces in Bulgaria since World War II, and Bulgaria deployed a 
        nuclear, biological, and chemical protection detachment to Afghanistan 
        as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF);
Whereas Bulgaria has stood firmly by the United States in the cause of advancing 
        freedom worldwide during its tenure as a non-permanent member of the 
        United Nations Security Council;
Whereas Bulgaria agreed to each request of the United States and offered 
        overflight and basing rights as well as transit of United States and 
        coalition forces, and deployed a 500-man infantry battalion as part of a 
        stabilization force in Iraq;
Whereas Bulgaria was recently invited to join NATO and has shown determination 
        in enacting the continued reforms necessary to be a productive, 
        contributing member of the Alliance;
Whereas Bulgaria strongly supports the strengthening of the trans-Atlantic link 
        and considers it a basis for NATO unity and cooperation in countering 
        new threats to global security; and
Whereas the Senate has recently given its consent with 96 votes to 0 for the 
        ratification of the accession protocols of Bulgaria and six other 
        aspirant countries from Central and Eastern Europe to NATO, thereby 
        welcoming their contribution to common Euro-Atlantic security: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends the Republic Of Bulgaria for developing 
        increasingly friendly and meaningful 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;
            (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.
                                 <all>
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