Conference dedicated to Bulgaria's 20th anniversary in NATO was held in Sofia

A conference on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Bulgaria’s accession to NATO under the slogan "Because we are stronger together" brought together almost the entire political and diplomatic elite of the country.

Bulgaria celebrates 20 years since joining NATO

The participants highlighted the great importance for Bulgaria of its membership in the North Atlantic Pact and underlined Bulgaria's key role as an active member of the Alliance. As a family of shared values, NATO today guarantees the peace and security of 32 member countries and over one billion citizens.

"Our accession to this most powerful military alliance of our time is in fact an accession to democratic values, freedom and peace, to respect for human rights and the rule of law," President Rumen Radev said.

"Our accession to NATO was Bulgaria's first and greatest achievement after 1989. It predetermined the clear direction of the country's development and the return of Bulgaria to European democracies, which has been expected for generations," outgoing Prime Minister, Nikolai Denkov, said.

"For us, NATO is a community of values and principles and only with united efforts, sharing best practices, highlighting Bulgaria's contribution to NATO we can be stronger," said Mariya Gabriel, outgoing Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

"If we had not joined NATO we would very likely have failed in the EU as well, so NATO was the big stepping stone to our entry into the EU", said Solomon Passy, President of the Atlantic Club.