In a world filled with challenges and increasing uncertainty, our membership in NATO is the most serious guarantee of our national security and independence. This was stated by the caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov on the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of Bulgaria's accession to the North Atlantic Alliance, the Council of Ministers announced.

Today, more than ever, we understand how important it is to have allies. As part of the most successful defense alliance in history, Bulgaria is not alone. We are a reliable ally who shares the values of freedom and democracy, noted Andrey Gyurov.

BTA recalls that on March 29, 2004, Bulgaria officially became a member of NATO. 22 years ago in Washington, USA, Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha handed over the ratification document for Bulgaria's accession to NATO to US Secretary of State Colin Powell, who accepted it on behalf of the USA - the depositary country of the treaty. The treaty was ratified by the National Assembly on March 18, 2004, and was published in the "State Gazette" on the same day.