[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 119 (Wednesday, July 12, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E662-E663]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       BRIGHT FUTURE FOR BULGARIA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 12, 2023

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, the dynamic Republic of 
Bulgaria is leading the way in energy independence, eliminating 
intimidation by the war criminal Putin who is sacrificing young 
Russians to death for his personal gain of money and power.
  Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov is a vrsionarv, meeting last week with 
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Sofia and facilitating 
Bulgaria selling two Russian-made nuclear reactors and other critical 
equipment to Ukraine.
  It is inspiring that the National Assembly on July 6th voted for 
Bulgaria to benefit from the sale. This corrects failed efforts from 
the 1980s of a technically and commercially flawed project, as 
identified by the Wall Street Journal on July 7th.
  ``The deal shows how Russia's energy influence in Europe is 
diminishing fast,'' said Martin Vladimirov, Director of the Energy 
Program at the Center for the Study of Democracy in Sofia.
  The people of Bulgaria and Ukraine mutually benefit as clearly 
explained by Assembly Member, Delyan Dobrev ``After the start of the

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war in Ukraine, building a power plant with that equipment became 
[politically] impossible. Ukraine needs the equipment that we have. It 
is a perfect match.''
  The association of Bulgaria and Ukraine for energy liberation is 
another extraordinary example of the war criminal Putin's 
miscalculation of the courageous people of Ukraine who have resisted 
valiantly for freedom. In America, Republicans and Democrats have 
united to support Ukraine with 100 billion dollars in aid. The European 
Union of 27 nations is reaching 100 billion dollars in aid. Germany has 
reversed neutrality to unprecedented support of Ukraine as NATO has 
achieved the remarkable inclusion of Finland and imminently Sweden with 
strong support from Japan, Republic of Korea, and Australia.
  This year marks 120 years of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria 
and America. Americans are so appreciative of the friendship with the 
talented people of Bulgaria as we rally together for mutual economic 
and security benefit. Bulgaria is well represented in Washington with 
Ambassador Georgi Panayotov as South Carolina appreciates the honorary 
Bulgarian Consul Don Tomlin of Columbia. The bi-partisan Bulgaria 
Caucus in Congress promotes warm relations with Democratic Congressman 
Brad Schneider and me as Republican Co-chairman.

                          ____________________