On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, it gives me great pleasure to wish the people of Bulgaria a happy and prosperous national day.

This year, we celebrate the 115^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and Bulgaria. The year 2018 also marks the first Bulgarian presidency of the Council of the European Union. In taking stewardship of one of the world’s leading political and economic institutions, Bulgaria is demonstrating its remarkable progress and achievements in recent years.

We view Bulgaria as a valued NATO ally, and U.S. soldiers are proud to serve side-by-side with Bulgarian troops as part of the coalition of countries seeking to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan. In 2018, we look forward to continued cooperation with our Bulgarian friends and partners and strengthening our relationship built on a commitment to shared values including democracy, free trade, and rule of law.