[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 355 Introduced in House (IH)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 355
Commemorating the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the
United States and Bulgaria.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 4, 2003
Mr. Wilson of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. Bereuter, and Mrs.
Tauscher) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on International Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Commemorating the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the
United States and Bulgaria.
Whereas the United States established diplomatic relations with the Republic of
Bulgaria on September 19, 1903;
Whereas the United States acknowledges the courage of the Bulgarian people in
deciding to pursue a free democratic and independent Bulgaria and their
steadfast perseverance in building a society based on the rule of law,
respect for human rights, and a free market economy;
Whereas Bulgaria has promoted stability in the Balkans by rendering support to
Operation Allied Force and Operation Joint Guardian led by the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and by providing peacekeeping
troops to Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (SFOR) in Bosnia
and Herzegovina, and to Kosovo Force (KFOR) in Kosovo;
Whereas 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 events of September 11, 2001;
Whereas 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);
Whereas Bulgaria has stood firmly by the United States in the cause of advancing
freedom worldwide during its tenure as a non-permanent member of the
United Nations Security Council;
Whereas Bulgaria agreed to each request of the United States and offered
overflight and basing rights as well as transit of United States and
coalition forces, and deployed a 500-man infantry battalion as part of a
stabilization force in Iraq;
Whereas Bulgaria was recently invited to join NATO and has shown determination
in enacting the continued reforms necessary to be a productive,
contributing member of the Alliance;
Whereas Bulgaria strongly supports the strengthening of the trans-Atlantic link
and considers it a basis for NATO unity and cooperation in countering
new threats to global security; and
Whereas the Senate has recently given its consent with 96 votes to 0 for the
ratification of the accession protocols of Bulgaria and six other
aspirant countries from Central and Eastern Europe to NATO, thereby
welcoming their contribution to common Euro-Atlantic security: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) commends the Republic Of Bulgaria for developing
increasingly friendly and meaningful relations with the United
States over the past 100 years;
(2) recognizes the continued contributions of Bulgaria
toward bringing peace, stability, and prosperity to the region
of South Eastern Europe, including its contributions to
regional security and democratic stability;
(3) salutes the willing cooperation of Bulgaria and its
increasingly vital role as a valuable ally in the war against
international terrorism; and
(4) encourages opportunities for greater cooperation
between the United States and Bulgaria in the political,
military, economic, and cultural spheres.
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