In a world full of challenges and growing uncertainty, our membership in NATO is the most serious guarantee for our national security and independence. This was stated by Acting Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov on the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of Bulgaria's accession to the North Atlantic Alliance, the Council of Ministers announced.
Today, more than ever, we understand how important it is to have allies. As part of the most successful defense alliance in history, Bulgaria is not alone. We are a reliable ally that shares the values of freedom and democracy, Andrey Gyurov pointed out.
On March 29, 2004, Bulgaria officially became a member of NATO. 22 years ago in Washington, USA, Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha presented the ratification instrument for Bulgaria's accession to NATO to US Secretary of State Colin Powell, who accepted it on behalf of the US - the depositary of the treaty. The treaty was ratified by the National Assembly on 18 March 2004 and published in the "State Gazette" on the same day.