site.btaPresident Rumen Radev Confers Order of the Balkan Range, First Class, on US Ambassador Eric Rubin

June 10 (BTA) - President Rumen Radev conferred here on
Monday the Order of the Balkan Range, First Class, on US
Ambassador Eric Rubin for his contribution to the development of
 the Bulgarian-American relations.

Ambassador Eric Rubin's term in Bulgaria is nearing its end.

Radev noted that this honour is an expression of the importance
Bulgaria puts on the strategic partnership with the United
States. Ambassador Rubin lead the US Embassy through various
global challenges, while managing to facilitate the growth of
Bulgarian-US relations and to develop the bilateral agenda in
this complex international environment, the President said.

Some of Ambassador Rubin's most important contributions were in
the areas of defence and security, in particular the
modernization of the Bulgarian armed forces, Radev said. During
his mandate, the scope and intensity of bilateral relations and
training was broadened, and the ties in the fight against
terrorism were reinforced, he added.

The President noted that with the Ambassador's extraordinary
efforts, Bulgarian-US trade and economic ties have deepened.

Ambassador Rubin said that he is leaving his post with the
pleasure of seeing Bulgaria striving for energy independence and
 diversification of energy sources. He recalled the purchase of
liquefied natural gas from the USA, as well as the
Greece-Bulgaria interconnector.

Rubin noted the progress made in building long-term
relationships between Bulgaria and the US in the areas of
security, the fight against terrorism, migration and defence.

Rubin noted that the US has had the opportunity to help Bulgaria
 in times of serious crisis and challenges in the field of
defence interaction, both bilaterally and as part of the shared
mission as NATO members. He praised the tremendous progress that
 has been made in interoperability, readiness and capacity
development.

The US Ambassador noted that Bulgarian economic and business
relations are getting stronger, and that hundreds of companies
have invested in Bulgaria in recent years. IG/DT