IV 

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 
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•HRES 355 IH 

(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 
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•HRES 355 IH 

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

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

2 (1) commends the Republic Of Bulgaria for de3 veloping increasingly friendly and meaningful rela4 tions with the United States over the past 100 

5 years; 

6 (2) recognizes the continued contributions of 

7 Bulgaria toward bringing peace, stability, and pros8 perity to the region of South Eastern Europe, in9 cluding its contributions to regional security and 

10 democratic stability; 

11 (3) salutes the willing cooperation of Bulgaria 

12 and its increasingly vital role as a valuable ally in 

13 the war against international terrorism; and 

14 (4) encourages opportunities for greater co15 operation between the United States and Bulgaria in 

16 the political, military, economic, and cultural 

17 spheres.

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