[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16652]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        WELCOMING BULGARIAN PRESIDENT GEORGI PARVANOV TO AMERICA

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, I welcomed 
Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov to Capitol Hill, along with 
Ambassador Elena Poptodorova and Foreign Minister Solomon Passy. 
Joining me in this meeting were the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. 
Schaffer) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Horn), who are two 
members of the newly formed Bulgaria Caucus, also cochaired by the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Tauscher).
  The Bulgarian caucus was created to spread awareness in America about 
Bulgaria's strategic location and critical assistance in the war on 
terrorism. Members of the Bulgaria Caucus are also strongly committed 
to helping Bulgaria gain admittance to NATO this November.
  President Parvanov presented proclamations to the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Tauscher) and I to honor the creation of the Bulgaria 
Caucus. The presidential proclamation affirms ``Bulgaria is committed 
to standing by the United States in the war on terrorism for the long 
haul,'' and that the leaders of Bulgaria are looking forward to working 
with members of the Bulgaria Caucus to further interest and awareness 
in America about Bulgaria.

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