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Bulgaria - Relations with U.S. (Notes)

U.S.-BULGARIAN RELATIONS The year 2003 marked the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Bulgaria. U.S.-Bulgarian relations were severed in 1950 but were restored a decade later. Bilateral relations between the two nations improved dramatically after the fall of communism. The United States moved quickly to encourage development of multi-party democracy and a market economy. The U.S. signed a Bilateral Investment Treaty in 1994 and gave Bulgaria most-favored-nation trade status in October 1996. In 1989, the U.S. Congress passed the Support for East European Democracies Act (SEED), authorizing financial support to facilitate development of democratic institutions, political pluralism, and free market economies in the Balkan region. Since 1990, Bulgaria has received over $600 million in SEED assistance. In 2007, after its EU accession, Bulgaria is graduating from the SEED program. In May 2005 the United States and the Republic of Bulgaria signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement, which gives the United States military access to and shared use of several Bulgarian military bases. The United States military intends to use this access to facilitate joint training with the Bulgarian and Romanian militaries. Bulgaria hosts the only fully American university in the region, the American University of Bulgaria in Blagoevgrad, established in 1991, drawing students from throughout southeast Europe and beyond. As of 2007, the American University of Bulgaria had over 1,000 students. Principal U.S. Officials Ambassador--John R. Beyrle Deputy Chief of Mission--Alexander Karaqiannis Counselor, Public Affairs--David Siefkin Director, USAID--Michael Fritz Political/Economic Counselor--Brad Freden Senior Commercial Officer--James Rigassio Consular Officer--Daniel Perrone The U.S. Embassy is located at 16 Kozyak Street, Sofia; tel: [359] (2) 937-5100; facsimile: [359] (2) 9375-320.