site.btaBulgarian Diplomatic Institute Holds Student Discussion for 20th Anniversary of NATO Membership

The Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday organized a discussion with students at the University of Ruse for the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Bulgaria's membership in NATO in 2024. Diplomatic Institute Director Tanya Mihailova said that 2024 is also the year in which 145 years of Bulgarian diplomacy will be honoured and that the membership in NATO is one of the achievements of the Bulgarian diplomatic service in the modern history of the country.

She said that nowadays more than ever it is necessary to talk about peace, adding that she believes in the power of diplomacy, because "it is a tool that has proven over the millennia to be the only peaceful way to achieve prosperity for all who desire it."

Prof. Velizar Shalamanov, Defence Capabilities Director at the Atlantic Club in Bulgaria, briefed the university students on the history of Bulgaria's membership in NATO, the main policies of NATO in view of the current geopolitical environment in the Black Sea region, as well as the modern dimensions of partnership within NATO - technology, artificial intelligence, strategic communications. "These 20 years are years of changes in every area, because NATO is not just a military political organization, but an organization for cooperation between the countries of the free world, including in the field of technology, in trade, in value-based communication between nations", said Shalamanov.

According to him, the constant change in NATO, aimed not only at adapting to what is happening around the Alliance, but also at setting the future, is the strength of the Alliance. "This is one of the important things that Bulgaria acquires with its membership in NATO - the opportunity to look ahead to the future and shape it", Shalamanov said. "NATO has guaranteed peace in Europe for 75 years and is expanding. We believe that Ukraine will soon join NATO", Shalamanov added.