site.btaDefence Ministry Presents 20 Years of Bulgaria in NATO Photo Exhibition

A photographic exhibition, titled "20 Years of Bulgaria in NATO", dedicated to the anniversary of this country's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, was opened on Tuesday on the bridge next to the National Palace of Culture (dubbed the Lovers’ Bridge) in Sofia.

The exhibit includes photographs taken by military and civilian employees of the Ministry of Defence, structures subordinate to the Minister of Defence and the various armed forces. The included footage illustrates Bulgaria's participation in NATO missions, operations and exercises and Bulgaria's contribution to collective defence over the past two decades.

"Bulgaria's membership in NATO has provided a guarantee for our security, stability and prosperity," caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said at the opening of the exhibition.

He commented that the Bulgarian armed forces have gone through a spectacular path of development and transformation to arrive where they are today. Zapryanov added that Bulgaria completed its full integration of the Armed Forces in 2009.

The exhibition is part of the national Programme with initiatives to mark the 20th anniversary of Bulgaria's membership in NATO and the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Residents and guests of the capital will have the opportunity to see the exhibition until June 4.

On March 29, 2004, in Washington DC, Bulgaria deposited its documents on joining the North Atlantic Treaty and thus became part of the political and military alliance NATO. Together with Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia joined the organization as well.