Message by H. E. Herro Mustafa, Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Bulgaria

On the 4th of July, America celebrates its independence. I am proud, as the Ambassador of the United States of America in Bulgaria, to honor the close friendly relations between Bulgaria and the United States on this holiday. On this day, Americans celebrate the freedom that our founders fought to achieve. This year, although we must be socially distant, I want to celebrate our shared history, and all that we have achieved together.

The United States and Bulgaria established diplomatic relations 117 years ago, but our history of friendship and support goes back much further. In 1860, Americans opened a school in Plovdiv that would later become the American College of Sofia.131 years after that, in 1991, the American University of Bulgaria was established with the joint support of the Bulgarian and United States’ governments. At the beginning of the 20th century the Rockefeller Foundation donated large amounts of money to help construct Sofia University’s Faculty of Biology, as well as the Bulgarian Institute of Health and some other health-related faculties.

Our cooperation and support go far beyond education. The United States wants Bulgarians to prosper as a democratic and independent nation, and continues to increase cooperation and strengthen ties with Bulgaria in all fields. 

Although the Fourth of July is the Independence Day of the United States, I would like to express our gratitude to the Bulgarian military, who are defending the independence of Bulgaria. Our militaries train and fight together as NATO allies in support of freedom around the world. The United States supports Bulgaria in its efforts to modernize its armed forces and to protect Bulgarian and American citizens all over the world from harm.

In addition to training and fighting together, we also help Bulgarian communities.  Over the past 10 years, the Office of Defense Cooperation has implemented 80 humanitarian projects throughout Bulgaria, including the construction of kindergartens and day care centers, renovation of schools and community centers, and more recently, donations of medical supplies and equipment to help fight COVID-19.

Joint ventures between Bulgarian and American companies employ many thousands of people. American companies have invested over two and a half billion dollars in the Bulgarian economy and have created over thirty thousand high-paying jobs. 

We cooperate in the field of culture and education as well. Dozens of Americans come to Bulgaria every year to study or teach, and thousands of Bulgarians go to the United States to study in high schools and at universities. The cross-cultural exchange between these students and Americans is of crucial importance to both our nations.

America won its independence not by fighting alone, but with the help of several key allies. Today, Bulgaria is a key ally in our efforts to build a safer, more prosperous, and democratic world.

We are stronger together!

The photo was provided by the Embassy of United States in the Republic of Bulgaria.