[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 94 (Monday, June 3, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E582-E583]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         APPRECIATING BULGARIA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, June 3, 2024

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, today I am grateful to 
recognize the 120th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the 
United States of America and the Republic of Bulgaria.
  September 19, 2023, marks the 120th anniversary of the establishment 
of diplomatic relations between the United States of America and the 
Republic of Bulgaria. The first United States Diplomatic Agent to 
Bulgaria, John B. Jackson, presented his credentials on September 19, 
1903. The first Special Envoy and Minister Plenipotentiary of Bulgaria 
to the United States, Stefan Panaretov, presented his credentials to 
President Woodrow Wilson on December 22, 1914. Today Bulgaria is well 
represented in Washington by Ambassador Georgi Aanayotor who also was 
an election observer for the South Carolina Presidential Primary in the 
tradition of former Ambassador Elena Poptodorova.
  The enduring ties between the two nations are exemplified by the 
founding of the American College of Sofia, dating back to a school 
opened by American missionaries in Bulgaria in 1860. On September 25, 
2023, the United States and Bulgaria held the second high-level 
Strategic Dialogue to advance their bilateral, regional, and global 
agenda and to further enhance cooperation as friends, Allies, and 
partners.
  The United States and Bulgaria stand together as North Atlantic 
Treaty Organization (NATO) Allies, determined to safeguard the freedom, 
common heritage, and civilization of their peoples, founded on the 
principles of democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of law, 
seeking to promote stability and well-being in the North Atlantic area. 
They have signed numerous important documents in key areas, including 
defense and security cooperation, 5G security, civil nuclear 
cooperation, science and technology, and combating foreign 
disinformation and propaganda.
  The United States and Bulgaria stand united against aggression and 
terror, condemning in the strongest possible terms Russia's brutal and 
unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine, and the heinous attacks 
on the Israeli people by the terrorist organization Hamas. Bulgaria 
remains committed to the collective defense, as exemplified by hosting 
a NATO battlegroup with United States participation, and by 
establishing a NATO littoral countries mine countermeasures task force 
to secure freedom of navigation in the Black Sea. Prior to becoming a 
NATO member and subsequently, as an ally, Bulgaria participated in the 
United States-led and NATO missions and operations in Iraq, 
Afghanistan, Libya, Kosovo, and the Mediterranean.
  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 attacks of September 11, 2001. 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). The 
United States and Bulgaria recognize that Russia's full-scale invasion 
of Ukraine has only underscored the geostrategic importance of the 
Black Sea region, and the need to ensure that the region remains free 
and secure from threats posed by Russia and other malign actors.
  The bilateral Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) was signed in 2006, 
regulating the status of forces, allowing for joint United States-
Bulgarian military facilities, providing for bilateral and multilateral 
exercises, and facilitating the movement and temporary stationing of 
aircraft and vessels. Bulgaria continues to invest in defense 
capabilities, interoperability, and the development of a credible 
defense posture in cooperation with the United States, as exemplified 
by the purchase of sixteen F-16 Block 70 fighter jets from the United 
States, and intending to purchase United States Stryker combat 
vehicles.
  The United States and Bulgaria share the understanding that energy 
security is crucial component of national security, and Bulgaria has 
made significant progress in reducing its dependency on Russian energy 
resources and in diversifying its energy sector in collaboration with 
the United States. The two nations acknowledge the significance of 
intensifying their cooperation in innovations, research, and emerging 
technologies. The people-to-people exchanges between the United States 
and Bulgaria are vital for bolstering the bilateral relationship and 
Bulgaria has made progress towards meeting criteria for visa-free 
travel of Bulgarian citizens to the United States. The shared 
commitment to counter disinformation and hybrid threats was 
demonstrated by the signing of a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding 
on Countering Foreign Information Manipulation on September 25, 2023.
  The year 2023 marks the 80th anniversary of the historic rescue of 
50,000 Bulgarian Jews during the World War II. It is acknowledged with 
regret and sadness that 11,343 Jews were deported to Nazi concentration 
camps from Macedonia, Thrace, and Pirot, territories administered by 
Bulgaria at that time.

[[Page E583]]

Bulgaria takes pride in its Jewish community and remains resolute in 
its stance against any forms of discrimination, intolerance, and 
antisemitism.
  The vibrant Bulgarian-American community is contributing to America's 
prosperity, including to its remarkable economic achievements, the 
preservation of its technological edge, and the enrichment of American 
culture and society, through its diverse talents, rich traditions, art, 
music, dance, cuisine, and language. Bulgaria's presence in the world's 
biggest library, the United States Library of Congress is marked with a 
collection of over 50,000 volumes of Bulgarian cultural heritage, 
brought together by the Library of Congress in collaboration with 
Bulgarian individuals and institutions since the 1880s. The American 
University in Bulgaria, the pioneer of American-style liberal arts 
education in Eastern Europe, has been delivering exceptional education 
for more than three decades. There are 41 Bulgarian Sunday schools in 
the United States, which are contributing to the preservation of 
Bulgarian language and traditions and to the cultural diversity in the 
United States. Bulgaria is the place of origin of the Cyrillic 
alphabet, which is currently taught in the Bulgarian Sunday schools 
across the United States.
  The Bulgarian Caucus in the House of Representatives was formed in 
June 2002 and the following year a group for friendship with the United 
States was formed in the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria 
demonstrating a dedication to the bilateral relationship. America's 
most successful and enduring relationships are built on shared values.

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