History

ACB was officially established in April 1991, but essentially dates back to August 1990 as a result of the parliamentary speech of Dr. Solomon Passy, then a member of the Grand National Assembly, in which he called for the accession of Bulgaria and New Europe to NATO and the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact.

This speech came only months after the Fall of the Berlin Wall, and although it was initially dismissed as too controversial, it eventually triggered the process of Bulgaria’s integration into Euro-Atlantic structures and discussions on the liquidation of the Warsaw Pact.

Thus, ACB remains the first and only pro-atlantic organization openly operating on the Warsaw pact territory and advocating for its solution.
In 1992, ACB joined the Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA) as the first non-NATO member.

Throughout its 30-year history, ACB has hosted hundreds of heads of state, government and international organizations, including NATO, SHAPE, UN, EU, OSCE and UNESCO, Nobel Prize winners, as well as innovators and global thinkers. From 1994 to 2002, ACB was the driving force behind the historic visit to Bulgaria of Pope John Paul II and – in 1991 – of the XIV Dalai Lama from Tibet. ACB was also one of the leading organizers of the historic visit of US President Bill Clinton to Sofia in 1999, which is the first visit of the current US President to Bulgaria.

From 2001 to 2005, Dr. Passy, then Honorary President of ACB, as Foreign Minister in the Government of H.M. Simeon II, negotiated and signed the Treaties for Bulgaria’s accession to NATO and the EU and raised the Bulgarian flag at NATO Headquarters in Brussels.

ACB has led national campaigns in Bulgaria to join US-led coalition liberating Kuwait from Saddam’s Occupation (1990-91), Bulgaria’s accession to NATO’s operation against the dictator Milosevic in Kosovo (1999) and Bulgaria’s accession to NATO as its de facto ally on 13 September 2001 in response to the 9/11 attacks. From 1999 to 2006, the leadership of ACB launched and implemented the project for joint defense bases of the United States and Bulgaria on Bulgarian territory. In 2006, the defense facilities in Novo Selo and Bezmer were established, used jointly by the United States and Bulgaria. In recognition of ACB’s achievements in promoting transatlantic values and integrating the former Warsaw Pact countries into the North Atlantic Alliance, the legendary Trabant car of ACB founder Dr. Passy, in which he drove NATO Secretary General Dr. Manfred Wörner in 1991. , Lord George Robertson in 2002 and Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in 2004, blessed in 2002 by Pope John Paul II, is currently on display at the National Museum of Military History in Sofia Since 2019 replica of the Trabant is exhibited at the new NATO Headquarters as a donation made by ACB (and the Bulgarian State) to NATO.

The Atlantic Club Ridge and Passy Peak on Livingston Island, Antarctica, are named in recognition of ACB’s active efforts to establish Bulgaria’s sustainable presence in Antarctica and Bulgaria’s accession to the Antarctic Treaty in 1998.

2023

2022

April

While Europe and its allies from across the Atlantic have been facing unprecedented new security challenges, the EU integration of the Western Balkans has become an imminent imperative in view of securing Europe’s safe and prosperous future.Building stable connectivity among Western Balkan countries in critical areas such as infrastructure, technology, digitalization, and overall security is the path to handling inevitable emergencies and developing resilience to emerging risks and threats.Therefore, the European Liberal Forum supported by the ALDE Party and the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria hosted “The EU Meets the Balkans” forum in Sofia, which will bring together a number of high-level speakers, that will debate on the regional cooperation and EU integration in a series of four panels. The event also focused on the situation in Ukraine.The welcoming speakers included: Daniel Kaddik, Executive Director of the European Liberal Forum, ELF; Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Member of the European Parlament, Co-President of ALDE Party; Dr. Solomon Passy, President of the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, followed by a keynote address from: Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of NATO; Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament; Teodora Genchovska, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria; Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of UkraineTheir introduction was followed by а conversation on the costs of the non-integration between Federica Mogherini, Rector Collage of Europe and HR/VP of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (2014-2019) and the EU Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi.On the contrary view, the first panel focused on the benefits of the integration, where Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Turkey, Republic North Macedonia, Republic of Albania, Republic of Kosovo and Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina took part.Further discussion tackled the issue of NATO and EU cooperation in scenerios of prosperity and war. The panel hosted Sir Stuart Peach, UK Special Envoy to the Western Balkans and other high-level guests.
The last panel focused on the disinformation in the tie of crisis, with Vice admiral Mitko Petev, Bulgarian Military Representative to NATO and EU MC and Peter Horrocks, Former Director of BBC World Service Groupas as some of the panelists.

May

The War in Ukraine demonstrated that the relevance of NATO is as high as never before in past decades. We need bold decisions to be implemented with no delay in order to guarantee the common security and political stability of all Allies of the Alliance.On May 11, 2022, the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria together with the Embassy of Spain in Sofia, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung – Sofia, The United States Embassy in Sofia and NATO Public Diplomacy Division hosted the conference “NATO after Madrid: The Ukraine Lesson”.The conference aimed to highlight Spain’s key role in the Alliance’s overall defense in the context of the 2022 NATO summit in Madrid.

June

Recent events have reaffirmed Russia’s long-standing policy of taking political advantage of Europe’s overdependence on Russian gas and oil supplies. Today, the continent is experiencing energy turmoil, with natural gas prices rising to levels five times higher than a year ago. It has become painfully clear that energy independence is as important to national and European security as military defence.In June, the Atlantic Club in Bulgaria, with the support of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria and the American University in Bulgaria, hosted “Energy Dissected 2.0”, the second edition of the high-level conference in Sofia, which brought together representatives from the parliament and the government, energy analysts from Bulgaria, EU, Russia, and USA, as well as industry experts who shared their views on the historic turning point in Europe’s energy policy.

July

On July 6 (Wednesday), the presentation of Prof. Vittorio Emanuele Parsi’s new book “The Wrecking of the Liberal Work Order” took place at the Residence of the Italian Ambassador to Bulgaria. The piece claims that the LWO order was hijacked in the 1980s and deviated from its original path. With democratic forces eclipsed by market forces, the book argues for a revival of the original intellectual premises of the post-World War II project.The event was accompanied by several interactive discussions on key topics such as NATO and the Madrid Summit, the security challenges of the European Union, Ukraine and the security of the Black Sea.

September

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and twenty educational and non-governmental organizations organized the second consecutive edition of “Hello, Space!” Bulgaria Calling!” STEAM & SPACE Festival. It took place on September 13, 2022, in Sofia Tech Park, with the substantial support of the US Embassy Sofia and NASA (Houston). The aim of this festival, building on the first edition, was to ignite the imagination of the youth to think, dream and plan big, pursue STEAM careers and find solutions through science.
This year the motto of the festival was to “fly even higher, dive even deeper and climb new peaks to inspire Bulgarian children to dream”. The main attractions of the festival were a live connection with the first astronaut mother from NASA – Anna Fisher, a virtual walk around CERN (Geneva), as well as a demonstration flight over the sky of Sofia Tech Park by the world record holder – Nikolay Kalaydzhiev. There was a special participation by Associate Professor Lachezar Georgiev, Director of the Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Scientific Team of the Central Committee QUASAR and representative of Bulgaria on the board of the European initiative EuroQCI (European Quantum Communication Infrastructure). He presented his project on quantum communication, which is based on the principles of quantum physics and uses the polarization of light quanta. Another important participant was Petko Dinev, founder of Imperx, the company that produced 14 aerospace imaging cameras onboard NASA’s Artemis 1 rocket. There were also lectures by specialists, various workshops and stands for children and youth, including an entertaining evening program.Approximately 360.000 Sofia Metro passengers daily watched the advertisement for two weeks before the event. During the Downlink-Day there were about 1500 visitors, more than 2000 viewers online from countries in Europe, North America, and Asia, and about 1.000.000 viewers on the four main national TV Channels (according to GARP Methodology).

Novemeber

Public speech of H.E. Ambassador Herro Mustafa addressed the strategic potential of US – Bulgarian relations as well as the White House meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Borissov.This event continued the three-decades old tradition of new US ambassadors to Bulgaria inaugurating their mandate with public remarks at the Atlantic Club

December

The Powers Summit is an innovative platform for constructive, operational, face-to-face dialogue between power, business leaders, science and the civil sector.The “Bulgarian Davos” aims to invest the collective intelligence of the country in creating sustainable solutions for the future of Bulgaria.On December 20, 2022, in Sofia Tech Park, the Powers Summit gathered the leaders of all political formations and their teams to seek solutions in real time on the leading topics in dialogue with business, the civil sector and science.
Main topics of Powers Summit 2022 were health care, energy, recovery and resilience plan, entrepreneurship, sustainable development. DNA was once again a partner in the organization of the event.

2021

January

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria held a virtual conversation on the rule of law in Bulgaria on 28th of January with the U.S. Embassy’s Resident Legal Advisor Ms. Jessica Kim. The name of the event was: “U.S. – Bulgaria Dialogues: A conversation on the rule of law with U.S. Embassy’s Resident Legal Advisor Ms. Jessica Kim”. She was interviewed by the Vice-President of the Atlantic Club Ambassador Elena Poptodorova. In her interview, Ms. Kim underlined the importance of the U.S.-Bulgarian partnership and the common values between the two countries- democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law. In her opinion, high profile corruption, lack of transparency and lack of judicial independence are some of the challenges Bulgaria will have to face in order to improve the rule of law.

April

The Global Britain: UK Priorities in a Changing World even was a discussion, organized by the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the British Embassy in Sofia and presented the UK’s Integrated Security, Defense, Development and Foreign Policy Review which was published in March 2021.
The focus was put on a cross-border perspective and a readiness to participate in planetary challenges. An emphasis was put on transparency as a source of prosperity, a clearer position on security and sustainable development, renewed commitments to the country’s role as a positive force and determination to seek common solutions to the Earth’s problems as well.
The main guests of the event were Dr. Solomon Passy, President of the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and Dr. Rob Dixon, Ambassador of the United Kingdom in Sofia. Notable guest speakers included Velizar Shalamanov, Director of the Board of the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI); Minister of Defense (2014); Director of Defense Capabilities at the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, Julian Popov, Senior Expert at the European Climate Foundation; Minister of the Environment and Water of Bulgaria (2013) and Vessela Cherneva, Director of the European Council Office for International Relations in Sofia. The moderator of the virtual conversation was Amb. Elena Poptodorova, Vice President and Director of the Atlantic Club in Bulgaria.

May

The Virtual Conference “Ahead of the Future: Preparing for NATO 2030” marked the 30th anniversary of the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria. Remaining true for 30 years now to our slogan “Ahead of the Future”, the ACB continues to engage in charting and analyzing predictable or unforeseen prospects for NATO – until 2030 and in the next 30 years in a fast-changing world. The event used recent history and experience as a reference point to suggest solutions to emerging threats or unanticipated risks that could take the democratic world by surprise as has happened a number of times in the past. There were opening remarks by Iliana Iotova, Vice-President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Thorsten Geißler, Head of Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Bulgaria, Stevo Pendarovski, President of the Republic of North Macedonia. Some of the most important keynote addresses belonged to Mircea Geoana, NATO Deputy Secretary-General, Petar Stoyanov, President of the Republic of Bulgaria (1997-2002), Dr. Javier Solana, 9th NATO SG, Lord George Robertson, 10th NATO SG, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, 11th NATO SG.

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Bulgaria co-organized the virtual conference “Sofia Three Seas Initiative Summit: The Road Ahead”. In 2021 Bulgaria hosts the Three Seas Initiative, taking on from Estonia the coordination process. The distinguished speakers at the event discussed the priorities of the Sofia Summit and Business Forum 2021, the development of infrastructure in energy and digital sectors, and gave an update on the 3SI Investment Fund.

July

For the first time in history Bulgarian students had the chance to ask questions to the astronauts aboard the International Space Station during a Downlink that took place on July 26, 2021.The initiative “Hello Space! Bulgaria calling” by the STEM & Space Cluster coordinated by the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, with the support of NASA, the U.S. Embassy Sofia and the Ministry of Education and Science, included a one-day STEM Forum at Sofia Tech Park, nation-wide competition for students and a live chat with two astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) – Mark Vande Hei (NASA) and Thomas Pesquet (ESA).The STEM & Space Cluster, consisting of 25+ top Bulgarian academic institutions, specializing in STEM and space research, as well as NGOs, coordinated by the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, was a partner of the US Embassy in Sofia and NASA as a host of the LIVE video chat with the astronauts aboard the ISS.The aim of the project was to ignite the imagination of the youth to think big, to start dreaming and planning to reach the Moon, Mars and beyond. The Cluster aimed to expose students and teachers to STEM careers through direct and virtual experiences with the work of NASA, as well as to inspire and provide them with all the necessary resources to pursue such careers.
Building on Bulgaria’s glorious past in space – as the sixth country in the world to launch a person in space and the third country to produce space food – we sought to improve US-BG cooperation in aeronautics and STEM education, as well as to send a third Bulgarian astronaut with NASA/SpaceX into space.

Bulgaria was the second EU country that had the privilege to host a direct video conference with the International Space Station, organized with the leading role of NASA, Huston, and the first with the active participation of pupils. The pre-recorded questions for the astronauts, as well as the young participants, were selected through a rigorous selection process that took place in the beginning of July. More than 100 (one hundred) questions asked by Bulgarian kids and students in Bulgaria and abroad were received for evaluation by the special jury of the STEM & Space Cluster, which approved 30 of them. The final selection of 18 questions to be asked during the Downlink was completed by NASA.

According to H.E. Herro Mustafa, Ambassador of the USA to Bulgaria “The Downlink 101 to the International Space Station is a historic event, as it is the first of its kind in Europe”.

Approximately 360.000 Sofia Metro passengers daily watched the Downlink 101 advertisement for a whole month before the event. During the Downlink-Day there were about 1200 visitors, 11.000 viewers online and 972.000 viewers on the four main national TV Channels (according to GARP Methodology). A month after the event the Downlink video had been watched by nearly 3 million viewers online.

Apart from the Downlink itself, the “Hello Space! Bulgaria calling” one-day scientific fest included 45 educational activities and more than 50 community partners took part in the event.

November

Facing high energy prices and meeting the low-carbon targets of the EU Green Deal are challenging Bulgaria’s and EU’s governments as well as fueling economic uncertainty in pandemic times.Those were among the key topics discussed by energy experts, academia, and energy business representatives at the hybrid discussion „Energy Dissected – experts on the floor”, organized by the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and American University in Bulgaria (AUBG) on Friday, November 12, 2021 online and in-person at Elieff Center for Education and Culture (upon presenting a Green Certificate).The event featured high-level energy analysts and experts like Amb. Richard Morningstar, Founding Chairman, Global Energy Center, Atlantic Council of US (ACUS); Assoc. Prof. Ognian Minchev, Executive Director of the Institute for Regional and International Studies; Amb. Ilian Vasilev, Chairman of the Board, Alternatives & Analyses NGO; Assoc. Prof. Atanas Georgiev, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Sofia University; Slavtcho Neykov, President of the Energy Institute; Assoc. Prof. Mark Leonard, Department of Economic, AUBG; Martin Vladimirov, Director „Energy and Climate Programme, Center for Study of Democracy, Julian Popov, Founding Board Member of the Institute of Sustainable Transition and Development.

December

Powers Summit is an innovative platform for an in person and constructive dialogue between policy-makers and the business, organized by the Webit Foundation and the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.“ The Bulgarian Davos” aims at investing public smart ideas to the creation of sustainable solutions for Bulgaria’s future. In 2021 (14 December in Sofia Tech Park) Powers Summit gathered leaders of all political formations and their teams with business, civil society and academia to find real time solutions for the key challenges Bulgaria is facing.

2020

May

The virtual discussion ‘Solidarity in Crisis: The Bridge to Bliss”, orchestrated by the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, brought together participants spanning 14 time zones, encompassing countries across three continents. The discourse featured eminent figures such as Eric Weiner, the renowned author of “Geography of Bliss”; Thorsten Geissler, Head of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung in Bulgaria; Ko Wen-je, Mayor of Taipei, Taiwan; Hans van Baalen from ALDE; Dr. Itai Pessach of Israel; Chun Beeho, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Bulgaria; Chang-Hui Shen from the College of Staten Island, CUNY; Prof. Harsh V. Pant from the Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi; Dr. Milena Georgieva, a member of NATO SPS MYP G5266; Entrepreneur Dr. Yossi Vardi from Israel; and Marina Kaizer of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung. During this insightful discussion, participants delved into numerous aspects of the COVID-19 crisis. Topics ranged from the role of disinformation in the pandemic to the exchange of successful strategies employed by organizations, countries, and regions to combat the virus. Long-term solutions and preventive measures were also proposed to avert similar disasters in the future.

September

Almost 20 years after the September 11 terrorist attacks, it is time to commemorate the victims of these horrific acts, but also to reflect on the changing security environment. During the virtual discussion “9/11: Two Decades Later. NATO Youth Ambassadors Talk with Daniel Fried”, questions such as how to predict and prevent such attacks on NATO ally territory, is it possible to be one step ahead of terrorists or other aggressors in cyber space and prevent a future digital 11/9 and what have we learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and are we ready to be resilient against biological weapons were posed. Our NATO Youth Ambassadors discussed these and more questions during the virtual discussion with Ambassador Daniel Fried, American Diplomat, Atlantic Council of U.S. Distinguished Fellow and Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs from 2005 to 2009, organized by the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria

Together with the Digitial National Alliance, the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria held “Sofia CyberSec2020” conference, which combined the physical presence on the open stage and the live video connection with a limited number of experts in the field of security, business and institutions, and the participation of foreign speakers. The main topics for discussions were the current cyber threats to NATO member states and partners and the extent to which they fall within the scope of Art. 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, malicious cyber-attacks such as cyber espionage, interference in democratic elections, fake news, countering the growing number of cybercrime in the use of more digital services in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and strategies for overcoming them.

October

The virtual energy seminar “The Green Deal: The pathway for Republic of Korea and Republic of Bulgaria towards a low-carbon and green economy” brought together players from both countries – politicians, representative of regulatory bodies, business, energy experts, scientists and environmentalists – in order to exchange ideas, technological progress and required actions to reach carbon neutrality in the upcoming decades. In both – the Republic of Korea and Bulgaria – a fair transition is to be ensured for those regions that foresee difficulties in coming from a reduced use of coal power by supporting their adjustment to the renewable energy sector and hydrogen application.

December

The virtual event “Building-up disinformation resilience: Is there any anti-fake news vaccine?”, organized by the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and Dr. Preslav Nakov, shared insights from a study on over 10,000 COVID-19-related social media posts. Bringing together experts from various fields, the discussion focused on effective measures for countries to combat fake news and enhance societal resilience against misinformation. Speakers included Dr. Solomon Passy, Dr. Preslav Nakov, Prof. Dr. Nikolay Gabrovski, Prof. Radostina Alexandrova, Assoc. Prof. Milena Georgieva, Assoc. Prof. Mihail Okoliyski, Elena Poptodorova, Ekaterina Dimitrova, Dr. Neville Bolt, Kaloyan Konstantinov, and Martin Dimitrov. The event aimed to address the critical role of reliable information in public health and international security.

2019

April

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria hosted the international conference titled “NATO@70: 10 Years Ahead and 15 Years Bulgaria in NATO,” commemorating the 70th anniversary of NATO and the 15th anniversary of Bulgaria’s accession to the Alliance. Held in Sofia, the event brought together politicians, experts, diplomats, and representatives from the Bulgarian Armed Forces. Distinguished speakers included Ekaterina Zaharieva, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Atanas Zapryanov, Deputy Minister of Defence; Peter Stoyanov, President of Bulgaria (1997 – 2002); Dr. Antonio Missiroli, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges; Fabrizio Luciolli, President of the Atlantic Treaty Association; and H.E. Eric Rubin, Ambassador of the United States in Bulgaria. Additionally, Tacan Ildem, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy, addressed the conference through a video message.

June

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria hosted a farewell garden party for Ambassador Eric Rubin and Nicole Simmons. More than 100 guests attended the event, among them Krasimir Karakachanov, Minister of Defense; Nikolina Angelkova, Minister of Tourism; representatives of Bulgarian business, European and local institutions, non-governmental organizations, and technology companies.

November

Public speech of H.E. Ambassador Herro Mustafa addressed the strategic potential of US – Bulgarian relations as well as the White House meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Borissov.
This event continued the three-decades old tradition of new US ambassadors to Bulgaria inaugurating their mandate with public remarks at the Atlantic Club

2018

May

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria host Ambassador Philip Reeker, Deputy to the Commander of US European Command – EUCOM. The event takes place on 4 May 2018, at 10:00 a.m., at Hall 8 of the National Palace of Culture, Sofia. In the turbulent post-BREXIT times in EUROPE, the cohesiveness of the West is on trial and the Trans-Atlantic bond needs to be reinforced. The two visits & discussions on May 4th are part of the on-going campaign WE ARE NATO, which embraces all member–states.

June

ACB’s youth organization – the Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Youth Club, supported by NATO, organizes a NATO Summer School in the period 3 – 9 June 2018, in Smolyan, Bulgaria, on the topic NATO: Strengthening Transatlantic Dialog and Cooperation in 2018. The international seminar focuses on addressing NATO’s top priority actions for dealing with the challenges in the changing international environment.

October

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Atlantic Council of Serbia and with the support of the NATO Science for Peace Program, organizes an international seminar Fundamental Readiness for Cyber Defense in the Balkans (FRCDB). The project involves the participation of many politicians, diplomats and experts from more than 10 countries, international organizations (OSCE, OECD), as well as NGOs in the area of the cyber security. The main goal of the project is to facilitate the importance of regional and international cooperation among the participants within the NATO and partner countries in the SEE region. The workshop enhances an essential component in building fundamental readiness for resilience to cyber threats and cyber terrorism, by sifting the cyber defense capabilities in the Balkan region. The event focuses on five main priorities: cyber defense situational awareness, critical information infrastructure protection, cyber security capacity, culture and policies building and sharing the best practices through presenting new technology by the cyber security local and international industry.The seminar takes place in the period 17 – 19 October, in Belgrade, Serbia.

November

On November, 9th, 2018, at 10:00, at Hall 6 of the National Palace of Culture, the largest conference on fake news gathers in one place journalists, representatives of European and local institutions, non-governmental organizations, and technology companies. The Fake News of True Trolls conference is organized by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and Digital National Alliance, with the support of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the EU Parliament, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, the Atlantic Treaty Association, the Diplomatic Institute to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria and the Embassy of France in Bulgaria. The conference focuses on disinformation, fake news and international security, the challenges journalists face in the present-day media landscape and the role of social media users in spreading misleading information. Among the speakers are the Vice-President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Iliana Iotova, the Minister for the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council, Lilyana Pavlova, the EU Commissioner Mariya Gabriel and many other distinguished experts.

2017

June

ACB’s youth organization – the Bulgarian Euro Atlantic Youth Club, supported by NATO, organizes a NATO Summer School in the period June 4th – June 10th, 2017, in Smolyan, Bulgaria, on NATO Challenges and Concerns on the Eve of the 2017 Summit. The seminar focuses on addressing NATO’s priority actions necessary for the Alliance’s adaptation to the new security environment.

July

Atlantic Discussions, organized by the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria. In the first part, there is a discussion with the Prime Minister of Bulgaria H.E. Boyko Borissov, on the topic The Transatlantic Partnership from the Perspective of Bulgaria’s EU Presidency. Prime Minister Borissov highlights the strategic priorities of Bulgaria in view of the transatlantic relations and the forthcoming Bulgarian EU Presidency. This is the first large-scale discussion on this topic with the Bulgarian Prime Minister. In the second part, there is a public lecture by H.E. Eric Rubin, US Ambassador to Bulgaria, on the topic S. – Bulgarian Partnership: The Way Ahead. H.E. Eric Rubin discusses the partnership between the USA and Bulgaria and how it could be strengthened. This is the first public event with the participation of Ambassador Rubin after the election of the then Parliament and Government of Bulgaria. The event is the first discussion with Bulgaria and the USA on the new scale of Euro-Atlantic solidarity in the context of EU’s response to Brexit. The discussion is moderated by Dr. Solomon Passy – President of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria. The event takes place from 09:30 – 12:00, at the Central Military Club, Sofia, Grand Concert Hall.

September

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, supported by NATO, organizes an international conference, titled NATO strategy for Security in the Black Sea Region, which takes place from 28 – 29 September 2017, in Varna. The event aims to highlight the importance of the security issue in the Black Sea Region, by bringing together members of government, the NGO sector, international experts, academic representatives and media. It focuses on raising public awareness about the Black Sea security.

October

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the Bulgarian National Council for Cooperation on Ethnic and Integration Issues and the Federation of Zionists in Bulgaria organize a lecture of the CEO of the American Jewish Committee, David Harris. The topic of the lecture is S. Foreign Policy in the New Era: An American Jewish Perspective. The speech of David Harris is followed by a Q&A session. The event takes place on 16 October 2017, at the Grand Concert Hall of the Central Military Club, in Sofia, at 18:00.
A discussion on the topic Together in Security. Bulgaria in the Common European Defense. The discussion is initiated by the President of the Party of European Socialists Sergey Stanishev, and organized by the Academy of Leftist European Policies, The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the Institute for Rightwing Policy, PanEuropa Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Defense Industry Association, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation – Office in Bulgaria, the Sofia Security Forum, the Center for Defense and Security Research and the Center for Defense Policy Studies. The discussion is held on 16 October 2017, at 10.30 a.m., at the Central Military Club, Concert Hall, Sofia.

2016

January

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by H.E. Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, with the main topic being The European Union and the Challenges Ahead. His speech is followed by a Q/A session. The event takes place on 21 January 2016, at 16:00, at the Central Military Club, in Sofia.

April

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by H.E. Eric Rubin, Ambassador of the USA to Bulgaria, with the main topic being Bulgaria and America: Allies and Partners. His speech is followed by a Q/A session. US Ambassador to Sofia H.E. Eric Rubin, decides to continue the 20-plus-year tradition established between the US Embassy in Sofia and The Atlantic Club and delivers an introductory public lecture after his inauguration before the audience of The Atlantic Club in Bulgaria. The lecture of Ambassador Rubin takes place on 7 April 2016, at 11:00, at the Sofia Hotel Balkan, and coincides with the 25th anniversary of the foundation of ACB.

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, in cooperation with the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy – Berlin, and with the special support of NATO, organize an international conference with a main topic Current Security Challenges in the Black Sea Region. Keynote speakers of the event are H.E. Alexander Vershbow, Deputy Secretary General of NATO, Amb. Valentin Poryazov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, and Georgi Pirinski, MEP, S&D Group. The event takes place on 22 April 2016, at the Central Military Club, Sofia.

May

ACB’s youth organization – the Bulgarian Euro Atlantic Youth Club, supported by NATO, organizes a NATO Summer School, in the period 30 May – 5 June 2016, in Smolyan, Bulgaria, on the topic NATO Challenges and Concerns on the Eve of the 2016 Summit. The international seminar focuses on NATO’s priority actions directed at the Alliance’s adaptation to the new security environment. Key topics are the current challenges in the Black Sea region, preparing for threats in emergent spaces, including cyber space and maritime security, smart defence and planning for the future in times of austerity, NATO’s role as a global security actor, NATO-Russia relations, women’s role in peace and security, the war against terrorism, and NATO transparency and reforms. The seminar creates a forum where young people with different nationalities and backgrounds have the opportunity to meet with representatives of NGOs, government, experts and to discuss and exchange ideas about NATO’s current and future role in the ongoing international threats and challenges. Besides attending a number of intriguing lectures, the participants are welcomed to take part in fun social activities.

June

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia organize a lecture by H.E. Dr. Milan Brglez, President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia, on the topic Refugee and Migrant Crisis: Slovenia’s Experience and the Difference of Opinions in the European Union. The event takes place on 9 June 2016, at 16:00, at the Central Military Club, Sofia.

July

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Embassy of the United States in Sofia organize a conversation with Deborah Lee James, U.S. Secretary of the Air Force, on the topic Transatlantic Relations – The Role of Airpower in Global Security. The event takes place on 13 July 2016 (Wednesday), at 17:00, at the Central Military Club, Sofia.
Shortly after the NATO Warsaw Summit that took place from 8 – 9 2016, The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the American-Bulgarian Alimni Association, the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation organize a public discussion on the topic The Aftermath of the NATO Warsaw Summit. Keynote speakers at the event are the Minsiter of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria Daniel Mitov, Deputy Minister of Defence Atanas Zapryanov, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Bulgaria Krzysztof Krajewski and Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to Bulgaria H.E. Marian Jakubocy. The discussion is moderated by Dr. Solomon Passy, President of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria. It takes place on 14 July 2016, at the Central Military Club, Sofia.

September

On 13 September 2016, H.E. Xavier Lapeyre De Cabanes, Ambassador of the French Republic, makes his valedictory speech in Bulgaria, on the topic Mission Accomplished: My Hopes for Bulgaria. The event is held at the Sofia Hotel Balkan and is organized by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria. The President of The Atlantic Club, Dr. Solomon Passy, calls it the “Apple Speech”, because of the comments of H.E. De Cabanes that there are “rotten apples” in the Bulgarian judicial system.

October

Professor Paul Sracic, Chair of the Department of Politics and International Relations in Youngstale University in Ohio, is a guest of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria on October 14, 2016, within a public discussion on the US Presidential Election in 2016, taking place at the American Corner, in Sofia.

November

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, with the support of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria, organizes a public lecture by Major General Tsanko Stoykov, Commander of the Bulgarian Air Force, on the topic The Future of Bulgarian Air Force within the National and Allied Defence. The event takes place on 30 November 2016, at 11:00 a.m., at the Central Military Club, Sofia.

December

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Armed Forces Women Association and the Montenegrin American Youth Alumni Association, with the support of the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme, organize an advanced workshop titled Women Building Peace: What They Do, Why It Matters – Resolution 1325, which takes place in the period 13 – 15 December 2016, in Podgorica, Montenegro.

2015

March

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by the Executive Director of the American Jewish Committee David Harris, in order to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his first lecture before the Bulgarian audience, also organized by the ACB, in 1995. David Harris shares the viewpoint of the Jewish community in the US on a number of key international issues in Europe and the Middle East, and their impact on the world. His speech is followed by a Q&A session. The event takes place on 9 March 2015, at the Central Military Club, in Sofia, at 17:30.
ACB’s youth organization – the Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Youth Club, and the Macedonian Research Centre for Security Defence and Peace, with the support of the NATO Science for Peace and Security programme, organize an international advanced research workshop on the topic Encouraging Cyber Defence Awareness in the Balkans. The purpose of the workshop is to enrich the experience and competence of the participants in the field of cyber-defence and security on the Balkans, as they are viewed from the perspective of NATO. The event takes place from 17 – 19 March 2015, at the Bushi Resort & SPA Hotel, in Skopje, the Republic of Macedonia.

April

The US-Bulgarian Alumni Association, in cooperation with The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, organizes the public discussion Generation Bridge – Networking Briefing. The main purpose of the event is to bring together young people and business organizations, to narrow the gap between business and education in Bulgaria. Students with different majors by most universities in the country have the opportunity to meet and get acquainted with companies from different fields, recruiting interns and offering vacancies. The event takes place on 27 April 2015, 18:00, at the American Corner in Sofia.

May

The US-Bulgarian Alumni Association, in cooperation with The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, organizes a public discussion on the topic Advancing American Values in Europe: Success and Challenges. The lecturers Professor Michael Hannahan, Ph.D., Director of the University of Massachusetts Civic Initiative, Ms. Daniela Bojikova from the US-Bulgarian Alumni Association, and Mr. Kevin Aspegren, President of the American University in Bulgaria, share advice, know-how, and techniques adopted through American-Bulgarian partnership and education. The young participants in the event have the opportunity to exchange views and get acquainted with the best American practices and values and their realization on European soil. The event takes place on 7 May 2015, at 18:00, at the American Corner, Sofia.

June

The Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Youth Club, with the support of the NATO Public Diplomacy Division, organizes for a second consecutive year a NATO Summer School in Bulgaria. The event is on the topic NATO after the 2014 Summit: New Challenges and Concerns” and takes place in the period 30 May – 7 June 2015, in Smolyan, Bulgaria.

September

The National Museum of Military History and The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organize a donation ceremony, to mark the 25th Anniversary of the organized Pro-Atlantic Movement in New Europe, conceived in the Bulgarian Parliament in 1990. The Bulgarian automobile is first shown in 1991 by CNN, when it was used for “kidnapping” the then NATO Secretary-General Manfred Woerner. Later, some of the most remarkable modern celebrities peacefully ride in it, and it even receives the blessing of Pope John Paul II, in 2002, as a symbol of the Euro-Atlantic orientation of Bulgaria. In 2015, the automobile is officially donated by its owner, Dr. Solomon Passy, to the National Museum of Military History (NMMH). The cardboard vehicle, a defining feature of the Communist reality before 1989, later turned into a symbol of the striving of the Bulgarian Atlanticists for unity with the West, becomes part of the exposition of the National Museum of Military History – the first museum in the country to represent the Bulgarian path towards NATO. A special guest to the event is H.E. Roderick Moore, chargé d’affaires of the US Embassy in Sofia. In 1990, he becomes a godfather and later an Honourable Director of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria – the only national pro-Atlantic organization ever operating on the territory of the Warsaw Pact. The ceremony takes place on 16 September 2015, at NMMH, at 11:00 a.m.

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and The Bilateral Chamber of Commerce Bulgaria-Romania organize a public lecture by H.E. Sorin Ducaru, Assistant Secretary-General of NATO for Emerging Security Challenges, with the main topic being Rising Challenges in the Modern World. Sorin Ducaru discusses the appearance of new threats to the Atlantic security and their consequences. His speech is followed by a Q/A session. The event takes place on 25 September 2015, at the Sofia Hotel Balkan, at 14:00.

October

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by H.E. Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, President of the Republic of Macedonia, with the main topic being Macedonia in NATO: Expectations for the Warsaw NATO Summit. His speech is followed by a Q/A session. The event takes place on 7 October 2015, at 14:00, at the European Commission’s Representation in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by H.E. Laura Thompson, Deputy Director General of the International Organization for Migration, with the main topic being Current Migration Trends. Her speech is followed by a Q/A session. The event takes place on 20 October 2015, at 14:30, at the Sofia Hotel Balkan.

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and The Bulgarian Armed Forces Women Association, with the special support of NATO, organize an international conference, with the main topic being Women, Peace and Security: What They Do, Why It Matters, on the occasion of the 15th Anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325. The event takes place from 27 – 28 October 2015, at 09:30 a.m., at the Central Military Club in Sofia.

November

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by H.E. Franco Frattini, Foreign Minister of Italy (2002 – 2004; 2008 – 2011), Vice-President of the European Commission (2004 – 2008) for Justice, Freedom and Security, and President of the Italian Society for International Organization. The main topic is Refugees, Migration, Europe: 2015 – 2030. The speech of H.E Franco Frattini is followed by a Q/A session. The event takes place on 18 November 2015, at 11:00 a.m., at the Central Military Club, in Sofia.

December

UNESCO and The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organize an international conference with the main topic being Countering Violent Extremism: New Security Agenda for Education and Culture. The perspectives for building a global coalition for the protection of cultural heritage and diversity, as well as the role of education in preventing violent extremism, are discussed during the event. The conference takes place on 16 December 2015, at 13:30, at the Sofia Hotel Balkan.

2014

January

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and PanEuropa Bulgaria, with the support of the European Commission, organize a conference, titled Prosperity = Science + Youth, with the special participation of Prof. Anne Glover – Chief Scientific Adviser to the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso. The event aims to establish a discussion regarding the Bulgarian contribution to European science, as well as the development of the European scientific policies. Other topics that are discussed during the event emphasize the future perspectives for stimulating young researchers, including education and scientific exchange as a means for fighting youth unemployment. The event takes place on 28 January 2014 at 9:00 a.m. at the Sheraton Hotel, Sofia.

April

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the Diplomatic Institute to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria and G. S. Rakovski National Defence Academy, with the special support of NATO, organize a conference titled Future NATO on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of Bulgaria’s accession to the Alliance. The event aims to establish a discussion regarding the challenges and perspectives before NATO’s open-door policy, responsibility sharing and capacity building within the framework of the transatlantic link, the mission of NATO in Afghanistan after 2014, as well as the role of Bulgaria in the Alliance in the past ten years. The conference takes place on 3 – 4 April 2014 at 9:30 a. m., at the Central Military Club, Sofia.

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Sofia and the Diplomatic Institute to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria organize a public lecture of the Turkish Ambassador in Bulgaria, H.E. Süleyman Gökçe. In his speech, Ambassador Gökçe presents the development of partnership relations between Turkey and Bulgaria in the areas of politics, defence, economics, trade, energetics and culture. The Turkish Ambassador payed special attention to the contribution of both NATO members to safeguarding peace and stability on the Balkans and in the Black Sea region. The event takes place on 16 April 2014, at 11:00 a. m., at the Sheraton Hotel, Sofia.

June

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public exhibition on the NATO Ballistic Missile Defence. The exhibition is part of the national plan to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the accession of Bulgaria to NATO. The topic of the exhibition is related to the protection of Europe. In 2010, after the NATO Lisbon Summit, the Alliance decides to initiate the development of a missile defense to fulfil its primary purpose – the defence of Europe. During the Summit in Chicago in 2012, the Heads of State and Prime Ministers of NATO Member States announce the potential for missile defense application. The exhibition is opened on June 24, 2014, at the Central Military Club, in Sofia, and continues until July 9, 2014.

September

On 18 September 2014, a public lecture by the Ambassador of Hungary to Bulgaria H.E. András Klein takes place at the Plenary Hall of the Varna Municipality Building, at 16:00. During the lecture, the Ambassador shares his view on the “South Stream” project. According to him, there is much confusion and chaos concerning energy policy, which impedes cooperation. His lecture enjoyes great interest and is the first of a series of meetings on the Future of Bulgaria project, implemented jointly by the Municipality of Varna, The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and Future Workshop Bulgaria. The diplomat says that there is an increase in the number of Hungarian tourists in the country and calls for greater cooperation at the institutional level – in the fields of education, science and culture.

October

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the British Embassy to Bulgaria, Future Workshop Bulgaria and Varna Municipality organize a public lecture by the Ambassador of Great Britain in Bulgaria H.E. Jonathan Allen, on the topic Future Development of Relationships of Bulgaria with the United Kingdom. In his speech, Ambassador Allen presents the development of partnership relations between Bulgaria and the United Kingdom in the fields of politics, economy, trade, education and culture. The event is held on 7 October 2014 at 05:00 p.m. at the Varna Municipality building.
On 16, 20, 22, and 29 October and on 3 November 2014, The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes 5 discussions in different parts of Bulgaria, on the topics of freedom and democracy. The discussions are part of the initiative for commemorating the 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall and are held under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rosen Plevneliev. With these events the Club strives to make one more step towards restoring confidence in the Bulgarian society, which had rarely been so polarized, with the political debate being devoid of strategic perspective and basis for national consensus. The events are supported by the Sofia Platform and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom.
Concerned by the continuing crisis in Ukraine, The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with Mr. Ian Kearns from the European Leadership Network (ELN), Mr. Jim Collins from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Mr. Wolfgang Ischinger, Munich Security Conference (MS.C), and Mr. Igor Ivanov, Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), establish an initiative for younger generation representatives from Ukraine, Russia, Europe and the United States, to engage in a dialogue on a broad spectrum of issues regarding the future of Ukraine as a short-term objective, and the future of Euro-Atlantic security as a long-term goal. The event is titled First Meeting of the Younger Generation Task Force for Ukraine and Euro-Atlantic Security and takes place in Sofia, from 28 – 29 October 2014. The participants are from Russia, Ukraine, the US, the UK, Latvia, Turkey, France, Germany and Poland. The schedule of the event features a one-and-a-half-day workshop devoted to the worsening international crisis in Ukraine.

In view of the aspirations of the Bulgarian statesmen after joining the EU and NATO, for Bulgaria to become a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria takes the initiative to support this idea. Dr. Salvatore Zecchini, Chairman of the Working Group “Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Entrepreneurship” in the OECD, deliveres a lecture to the members and guests of The Atlantic Club. The public lecture, called OECD: Added Value to the EU, takes place at the Central Military Club, in Sofia, on October 29, 2014, at 09:30 a.m.

November

Gen. Philip Breedlove, Supreme Allied Commander Europe & Commander of US European Command, speaks at The Atlantic Club on November 12, Wednesday, at 11:00 am, at the Central Military Club, in Sofia, as part of his visit to Bulgaria. Gen. Breedlove speaks on the topic of NATO After the Wales Summit, following which there is a Q&A session. The background of Russian-Ukrainian tension, ISIS in the Middle East, increasing cyber threats for NATO Allies and the Ebola outbreak in Africa makes this visit of Gen. Breedlove to Bulgaria more than timely and topical and attracts the interest of major world news channels and broadcasters. This was the first visit to Bulgaria of this rank, only a few days after the new Bulgarian Government had sworn in.

The Ambassador of the French Republic to Bulgaria H.E. Xavier Lapeyre de Cabanes delivers a public lecture before The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria on the topic The European Future of the Balkans. His speech is followed by a Q&A session. The event takes place on November 19^th, 2014, at the French Institute in Bulgaria, at 11:00 a.m.

December

The US-American Alumni Association, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence, the Bulgarian Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications and the British Embassy in Sofia, with the support of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, organize an international conference on the topic Cyber Security – Threats and Challenges. Several important issues from the area of cyber defence are discussed during the event, such as stability and resilience of the domain name system, Bulgaria in a secure digital space, cyber challenges and solutions, and others. The conference takes place on December 1st, 2014, at the Central Military Club, in Sofia, at 13:00.

2013

January

On 30 January 2013, the American Ambassador to Bulgaria, H.E. Marcie B. Ries, gives her first public speech since the second inauguration of Obama. The event is organized by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the Embassy of the United States in Bulgaria and with the special support of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy. After a short introduction and welcoming statement from the host, Dr. Solomon Passy, the floor is given to Mrs. Ries.

April

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the team of the project Bulgaria and the Space Law – a Look into the Future”, the Fund for Scientific Research with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Science, and with the special support of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, organizes a public lecture on the topic of The Perspectives in Front of Space Cooperation and Dealing with Space Debris. The honorable speaker is Professor Stephen Freeland, who teaches International Law in the University of Western Sidney (UWS). The lecture takes place on 4 April 2013 in the building of the European Comission’s Representation in Bulgaria.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, organizes a keynote speech of H.E. Todor Tagarev, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria, on the topic Future Challenges ahead of Defence Policy. The event takes place on 4 April 2013 at the Central Military Club. The event is organized on the occasion of the 9th anniversary since Bulgaria joined NATO, the 22nd anniversary of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the 65th anniversary of NATO.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, hosts the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Bulgaria H.E. Jonathan Allen, who gives a public speech. Mr. Allen is the first ambassador to fully immerse into the Bulgarian culture and traditions – he had spent one year in office at the British Embassy.

June

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, hosts a lecture on the topic The Role of the National Assembly and the Restoration of Trust in the Constitution and Democracy. The special guest of the event is the Chairman of the 42th National Assembly Mihail Mikov. The event takes place on 20 June 2013 at the Sheraton Hotel, Sofia. Other participants are Regine Schubert from the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and Dr. Solomon Passy, President of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the Embassy of Palestine, the Embassy of Qatar and the Diplomatic Institute, host a keynote speech by Dr. Nabil Shaath, former Minister of Foreign Affairs (1994 – 2006) and Former Deputy Prime Minister (2005 – 2006) of the State of Palestine, titled The Palestine Cause and the Role of Europe. The event takes place at the Sheraton Hotel on 21 June 2013 at 11 a.m.

September

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria hosts a conference on the topic Diversification of the Energy Market. Why is it Important? The event aims to highlight the main challenges in front of the energy market and to consider alternative sources for energy diversification. It brings together state officials, as well as energy experts, who discuss the economic and political aspects for the future development of the energy sector. The event takes place on 19 September 2013 at 09:30 a.m., at the Sheraton Hotel, Sofia.

October

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in partnership with the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy and with the special support of NATO, organizes an international conference on the topic Women Building Peace: What They Do, Why It Matters.The event aims to establish a discussion regarding women`s role for peace building, security and defense. The conference brings together state officials, as well as experts in the specific area, in order to discuss the various aspects on the topic. The event takes place in the period of 9 – 10 October at the Representation of the European Commission in Sofia.

November

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, hosts a public discussion on the topic Georgia’s European Way: Expectations and Challenges. The discussion includes a keynote speech by the Foreign Minister of Georgia H.E. Maja Panjikidze, who emphasizes the most important guidelines and perspectives for Georgian membership in the EU. The Foreign Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria H.E. Kristian Vigenin also makes a special statement about the positive development of the bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Georgia. The event takes place on 25 November 2013 at 16:30, at the Sheraton Hotel, Sofia.

2012

January

A public lecture by the Dutch politician Mr. Frans Timmermans, titled The EU: Is Our Common Future Just History, is held with the support of the Netherlands Embassy in Sofia and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.
Public lecture by Professor Massimo de Leonardis, titled From the Wars Among States to the Conflicts in the XXI Century: A Historical Perspective. During his lecture, Mr. de Leonardis presents his newly published book, titled Ultima Ratio Regum. Military Power and International Relations. The event is supported by the Embassy of Italy to Bulgaria and the Italian Institute for Culture in Sofia.
Round table on the topic EU Policy for Guaranteeing the Rights of the Passengers Using Air Transport. Partner of the event is the Information Office of the European Parliament in Bulgaria. Special guest is Mrs. Antonia Parvanova, Member of the European Parliament.
An official presentation of the book Contemporary Issues for National and International Space Law is held with the participation of Prof. Alexander Yankov, Dr. Solomon Passy, Mr. Stanimir Ilchev, Mr. Krassimir Bojanov and Ms. Rada Popova. The book is part of a project launched two years before, regarding space law and its significance in Bulgarian science, education and politics.

March

Keynote speech by H.E. Philippe Autie, Ambassador of the Republic of France to Bulgaria, on the topic The Challenges Before the Eurozone. The event is held with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of France in Bulgaria, Cheque Dejeuner, Emporiki Bank, Renault Bulgaria and Visa.
Presentation of two books by H.E. Vaclav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic, organized with the Embassy of the Czech Republic and the Publishing Houses East-West and MaK, and with the support of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy. The titles of the books are Where Tomorrow Begins and The European Integration Without Illusions.
An inter-parliamentary debate, titled Ukrainian-Bulgarian Relations: 20 Years of Friendship, Trust and Partnership, is held on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Ukranian-Bulgarian diplomatic relations. The event is organized in cooperation with the Embassy of Ukraine in Bulgaria and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.

April

Public lecture by the Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, H.E. Bujar Bukoshi, titled Euro-Atlantic Orientation of Republic of Kosovo, is held with the support of the European Polytechnic University and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.
International conference, titled Strategic Energy Challenges: V4 and Bulgaria and Romania – Common Interests, Common Actions. The aim of the conference is to focus on the energy challenges today and to make a meaningful discussion on the actions that should be taken in order to have a more prosperous future. The event is attended by many distinguished figures, such as Mr. Delyan Dobrev, the new Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism of Bulgaria, Mr. Jiří Schneider, the first Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, which then holds the Presidency of the Visegrad Four, as well as representatives from Bulgarian and foreign business circles, governmental officials, diplomats, media and many others. The event is organized with the support of the Czech Embassy, the International Visegrad Fund and in cooperation with the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.

May

Keynote speech by the President of the European Parliament H.E. Martin Schulz, titled Europe’s Way Out of the Crisis, is held together with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and the Sofia University, and with the support of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.
Public discussion, titled Five years Bulgaria in the European Union, is conducted with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria Nikolay Mladenov, who presents an analysis of the first five years of Bulgaria in the EU. The event is organized by the Information Office of the European Parliament in Bulgaria and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.
A two-day international conference, titled NATO’s Role in the Black Sea Region in the Context of the New Security Challenges and NATO Summit in Chicago, is oganized with the support of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria – Burgas, the Ministry of Defense, NATO and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.
A public lecture by the Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Belguim H.E. Pieter De Crem is organized on the topic Challenges of the 21st Century in the Field of Security and Defence. The event is organized together with the Sofia Security Forum and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.

June

A conference, titled Food Policies and the Future of the Food Industry, is organized with the special support of the Embassy of the United States in Bulgaria, Solae, and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.
A discussion, titled EU-US Relations, is organized with the support by the Embassy of the United States and the Embassy of Denmark, and with the special support of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.
Round table on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s visit to Bulgaria, titled John Paul II: The Man Who Changed the World. The event is organized in cooperation with the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.
Public lecture by the Prime Minister of Kosovo H.E. Hashim Thaci, titled Kosovo and Western Balkans Toward Euro-Atlantic Integration. The event is held with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.

July

A three-day seminar, titled The Experience of Bulgaria in the EU Accession and Membership Process – Recommendations for Serbia. The seminar aims at promoting cooperation between students, young professionals and academics from Serbia and Bulgaria, and bringing the European integration experience of Bulgaria closer to the Serbian students and the Serbian public in general. The event is held in cooperation with the Center for Social Dialogue and Regional Initiatives from Belgrade and the Embassy of the United States in Serbia.

September

Conference on the topic 11 Years after September 11th: Lessons for 11 Years Ahead. The aim of the conference is to commemorate the tragic events that happened 11 years before and to remind of the threat and the consequences that modern terrorism poses. The conference is organized together with the International Institute for Security and Cooperation and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.
A conference titled Growing with Our Customers – UNIQA Success Formula for CEE Region. The aim of the conference is to discuss the European insurance policies and practices, and how they can influence the Bulgarian market. The event is supported by UNIQA and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.
A conference titled Digital Agenda for Europe: Reality or still Challenge. The aim of the conference is to outline the activities along the guidelines of the Digital Agenda for Europe that will help the countries in the region to transform one of its weaknesses into an advantage. Special guest at the event is Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission. The event is organized with the support of the Bulgarian Government, the Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications, and the European Commission.
A two-day international conference, titled NATO’s Challenges and Concerns in the next 10 years, is organized together with the Sofia Security Forum, the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy – Berlin, and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria.

October

The US-Bulgarian Alumni Association is established with the collaboration of the U.S. Embassy. The aim is to unite people who have studied in the United States of America. The first event of the newly established organization is held at the Plovdiv University, where the topic of discussion is the US Presidential Elections 2012.

November

European project for the creation of “European toy” with Turkey, Bulgaria and Poland, held in Kasary, Turkey. The event is attended by a member of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.
Commemorative concert for the victims of the terrorist attack at the Burgas airport. The event is held in cooperation with the organization of the Jews in Bulgaria „Shalom“, and is sponsored by the Burgas Minicipality and the Regional Administration.
Annual speech of the Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev, regarding the celebration of the first anniversary since his inauguration. The topic is Current Issues and Priorities in the National Security of the Republic of Bulgaria. The event is organized together with the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin.

December

The President of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria Dr. Solomon Passy is in Oslo, where the Nobel Peace Prize for 2012 is officially granted to the European Union. The Union is represented by the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, and the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schultz. The heads of state and government of the 27 member countries of the EU also attend the ceremony.

2011

January

The President of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria takes part in a conference titled The Relations Between Europe and the USA. The conference is organized by the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin. The event takes place in Washington and New York.

February

A public lecture by the European Commissioner for Budget and Financial Programming Janusz Lewandowski, titled Financial Stability of the EU: Challenges for the National Budget and the European Budget in the Future, is held with the support of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin.

March

The ACB organizes a farewell speech by H.E. Steve Williams, Ambassador of the United Kingdom in Bulgaria, titled 7 Years in Bulgaria: Some Reflections, commemorates the successful conclusion of his two terms as ambassador. The event is organized with the support of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin.
The ACB organizes a presentation of the famous NASA astronaut Dr. Story Musgrave, held in cooperation with the Embassy of the United States of America in Bulgaria.
The ACB holds a keynote speech by H.E. Fu Ying, Vice Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China, titled China’s Development, Challenges and Opportunities. The speech outlines various points in China’s domestic and foreign policy.

April

Keynote speech by the Ambassador of the Republic of France to Bulgaria, H.E. Phillipe Autié. The Ambassador discusses the priorities of the French Chairmanship of the G-20. The event is organized by The Atlantic Club, with the cooperation of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin.
A conference titled Europe as a Global Actor: The Roles and Responsibilities of Europe and US in the New World Order and the Digital Revolution” is organized by the ACB, with the support of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin. The conference is part of a series of events commemorating the 20th anniversary of The Atlantic Club. The event is opened by H.E. James Warlick, Ambassador of the United States of America to Bulgaria, H.E. Chun Bee-ho, Ambassador of the Republic of South Korea to Bulgaria, and Dr. Solomon Passy, President of The Atlantic Club. The lectors of the conference include: H.E. Tsvetan Tsvetanov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, H.E. Judith Lang, Ambassador of the Republic of Hungary to Bulgaria, H.E. Marc Michielsen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Bulgaria, and H.E. Tsetska Tsacheva, President of the National Assembly.

May

International conference titled Intelligent Defence and Security: Building an Effective Management Through Joint Actions and Control is organized by the ACB, with the special support of IBM – Bulgaria, SAP – Bulgaria, the Ministry of Defence of Bulgaria (MD) and in cooperation with the embassies of the United States of America and Germany in Bulgaria. The conference takes place at the Central Military Club in Sofia.
Public lecture of the Secretary-General of the United Nations H.E. Ban Ki-moon, titled The World: Next 20 Years, is conducted in cooperation with the UN Association in Bulgaria and the Diplomatic Institute.
Public discussion with Mr. Hans van der Loo, Vice-President of SHELL International and head of the Communications Department with the EU of the company, is held on the topic The Future of the Transport with Low Carbon Emissions. The Vice-President speaks about the intelligent consumption, intelligent machines and intelligent infrastructure as the future of energy efficiency.
Public lecture by Robert Vernon, ex-Assistant Police Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (L.A.P.D.), is organized with the support of the Embassy of the United States of America in Bulgaria.
Lecture by the Australian Professor Stephen Freelance, lecturer at the University of West Sidney. The lecture is part of the space project of the ACB and is on the subject of Activities in Space and Their Legal Aspects: National Space Legislation.

June

A conference on the topic Euro-Atlantic Integration: Applying the Visegrad Four Experience is held on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Visegrad Four. Its main goal is to confirm the fact that regional collaboration continues to be a main factor in the process of expanding the EU. The event is supported by the Visegrad International Fund and the Ambassadors of the Visegrad Four (V4) in Bulgaria.
A public discussion titled Europe after the Hungarian Chairmanship is held with the participation of the Ambassador of Hungary in Bulgaria H.E. Mrs. Judith Lang and the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Mr. Rosen Plevneliev, and with the kind support of the Open Society Institute.

July

A public discussion with the EU Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht is held in cooperation with the American Chamber of Commerce.
A public discussion titled Europe Under the Polish Chairmanship and the Place of Bulgaria is held with the participation of the Ambassador of Poland in Bulgaria, H.E. Mr. Lezsek Hensel, and the Minister of Economics, Energy and Tourism of Bulgaria Mr. Traycho Traykov. The event is organized with the kind support of the Open Society Institute.

September

Public lecture by the special adviser of the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa Dr. Eddy Maloka, titled Facebook Revolutions in Africa. The lecture is attended by H.E. Sheila Camerer, the Ambassador of South Africa, and is held in cooperation with the South Africa Embassy in Sofia, the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute, the Bulgarian School of Politics and the Institute of Cultural Diplomacy.
Keynote speech by the President of Hungary H.E. Pál Schmitt, titled National Solutions to Regional Challenges, is organized together with the Embassy of the Republic of Hungary in Bulgaria, the Bulgarian School of Politics and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.
A keynote speech by the Deputy Chairman of the SDP faction in the German Bundestag Dr. Gernot Erler, titled New Challenges for Foreign and Security Politics in Europe, is co-organized together with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Bulgaria and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.

October

A public lecture by the EU Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs, titled How European Development Cooperation Contributes to the Transformation of the Global Order. The event takes place with the special support of the Open Society Institute, the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.
Lecture by the former U.S. Ambassador to Bulgaria H.E. James Pardew, titled The Breakup of Yugoslavia, is organized with the support of the American Research Center.
A business conference, titled Korea-EU Free Trade Agreement: Growing Opportunities for Korea and Bulgaria, takes place with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Bulgaria and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy. The purpose of the conference is to analyze trade and investment relations between the European Union and the Republic of Korea, as well as Bulgaria’s opportunities as a member of the EU.

November

A conference, titled The New Arab Spring: What Happened, What It Means, and What Comes Next, is organized with the special support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, the Ministry of Defense of Bulgaria, the Institute of Cultural Diplomacy and NATO. The goal of the conference is to analyze the events in the Middle East and North Africa during the Arab Spring and the consequences of the revolution there. The two-days event takes place at the Central Military Club in Sofia.

December

A public lecture by Princess Laurentein van Orajne-Nassau of the Netherlands, titled A Different Mindset for a Sustainable Future: The Value of Inner-Generational Dialogue, is organized together with New Bulgarian University, the Credo Bonum Foundation, the Bulgarian School of Politics Dimitry Panitza, Publishing House Ciela and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.

2010

January

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the Pan-European Movement – Bulgaria and the cooperation of the Open Society Institute, organizes a public discussion with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain in Sofia H.E. Jorge Fuentes. The discussion is titled The ЕU During and After the Spanish Presidency and Bulgarian Priorities in the EU (2010 – 2011). Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance H.E. Simeon Djankov takes a special part in the discussion. The discussion is held at the Alexander’s Ballroom of the Radisson Hotel.
The President of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria Dr. Solomon Passy participates in an international conference in Prague, titled The Strategic Concept of NATO – A Response to Our Concerns, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, in the panel Practical Implications: Opportunities for Crisis Management and Civil and Military Planning in NATO-EU Cooperation.
The President of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria Dr. Solomon Passy participates as a guest lecturer in the third mission of the European Friends of Isreal for Auschwitz: Remembering the Past to Promote a Peaceful Future: Europe United Against Anti-Semitism, Racism, and Xenophobia. The event takes place in Krakow, Poland.

February

Dr. Solomon Passy participates in the International Economic Congress, organized by the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin. He participates in the following panels: The Role of Global Governance Organizations in the Contemporary International Economy; The New Economic World Order: The Rise of New Major Players in Global Politics and the Challenge of Interdependence; and Economic Walls in the International Economy.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by the newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Bulgaria, H.E. James Warlick. The lecture is titled A New Partnership: Shared Interests, Shared Values and is held at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan.

March

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the National Tourism Board, co-organizes a conference on the topic The Threat of Terrorism and Crime in Tourism from an EU Policy Perspective. The event takes place at the Sheraton Hotel’s Sredetz Ballroom. Among others, H.E. Noah Gan Gendler, Ambassador of the State of Isreal to Bulgaria, also takes part in the conference.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Banks Investments Money magazine, organizes a presentation on UBS Switzerland, titled Finance Markets and the World Economy. UBS is a global firm with headquarters in Zurich and Basel, which provides financial services to private, corporate and institutional clients.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, with the support of the Open Sociaty Institute, organizes a public lecture by Defence Minister Gen. Anyu Angelov. The lecture is titled Aspects of the Republic of Bulgaria’s Defence Policy.

May

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by U.S. NASA astronaut Marsha Ivins, titled Living and Working in Space: Today and Tomorrow. The lecture is realized with the kind support of the U.S. Embassy and held at the Sheraton Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by NATO Secretary-General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen. The lecture is held in the Central Military Club in Sofia, with the kind support of the Open Society Institute.
A delegation from The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, including Solomon Passy (President of the Club), Ivan Sotirov (Chairman of the NATO Information Center in Sofia), Stefan Stofyanski, Elena Poptodorova and Maxim Minchev, takes part in the International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy 2010, organized by the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin. During the Symposium, there is also a special day designated to the celebration of the 20th anniversary of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.

July

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by Kelly Degnan, Advisor to the U.S. Mission to NATO, on the topic NATO’s New Strategic Concept. The lecture takes place at the Bulgarian News Agency.

September

The Atlantic Club organizes a public lecture by H.E. Mehmed Gyudjuk, Ambassador from the Republic of Turkey to Bulgaria. The lecture is conducted in connection with the successful completion of his diplomatic mission in Sofia. During the event, the ambassador discusses the future Turkish membership in the EU, Turkish investments in Bulgaria, the trading exchange between the two countries, as well as the development of future Bulgarian-Turkish relations. The lecture takes place in the “Serdika” hall of the Sheraton Hotel in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by H.E. Etienne de Pomcins, the Ambassador of the Republic of France to Bulgaria. The lecture is conducted in order to commemorate his successful diplomatic mandate in Sofia. During the lecture, the ambassador talks about the judicial reform, the fight against corruption, organized crime, etc.

October

In the days between October 26 a 28, a conference is held on Europe to Afghanistan: from Understanding to Support. The event is organized by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the kind support of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin. The conference takes venerable figures from NATO and the EU. Among the participants are H.E. James Warlick, Mark Dofried, Danielle Ridggio and Bettina Musheidt. The three-day discussion is held on an extremely high level, as it considers all perspectives and solutions to current issues. The President of The Atlantic Club, Dr. Solomon Passy, opens the event with an introductory speech about the problems and needs of people in Afghanistan, and the sympathy of our country towards them. Among the conference’s participants are prominent politicians: Nickolay Mladenov (Minister of Foreign Affairs), Nikolai Milkov (Ministry of Defense), H.E. Anyu Angelov (Minister of Defense) and others. The conference is filmed by the Bulgarian National Television and BTV, whose famous journalists, among whom Ivan Garelov, Boyko Vassilev, Georgi Mikov and Venelin Petkov, act as moderators, as people who are very committed and proactive to events happening in the Middle East.
The President of The Atlantic Club delivers a lecture before students of the University of National and World Economy. The lecture touches upon matters in the area of national security and defence, and is part of Bulgaria at National Model United Nations 2010 – 2012 – a project of the Sociology Students’ Association of the University of Sofia. The project is financed by the Trust for Civil Society for Central and Eastern Europe, the Open Society Institute and the National Collegiate Conference Association.

November

A public lecture by Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva, titled New Strategies for Crisis Response in Europe: How the Increased Frequency and Intensity of the Disaster Changing the Reaction of the EU, is held on 1 November at the Sheraton Hotel, Sofia. The lecture is organized by The Atlantic Club and the European Commission’s Representation in Sofia. Ambassadors of more than 20 countries attend the event, which is also attended by Dr. Solomon Passy (the President of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria).
Dr. Solomon Passy delivers a lecture before students of the New Bulgarian University.
Dr. Solomon Passy takes part in an international conference on the topic of Maritime Piracy in the Context of Maritime Transportation Safety and its Relation to Bulgaria’s National Security. The conference is organized by Risk Solutions Ltd., EA “Maritime Administration”, etc., and with the support of the European Commission and Sofia County.
Solomon Passy attends a round table discussion on the topic of IT Aspects of Defence in the Context of NATO’s New Strategic Concept and the EU Strategy.
On November 24th, Jan Peterson, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway and its current Ambassador to Austria, delivers a public lecture at the Sheraton Hotel in Sofia. The lecture is organized by the Norwegian Embassy in Sofia, the Diplomatic Institute to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria and The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria. Mr. Paterson focuses on Norway’s role as a mediator in the resolution of military conflicts and in the relations between NATO and the EU, as well as the process of Bulgaria’s accession to NATO and the potential of the Far North.
On the same day, the President of The Atlantic Club Dr. Solomon Passy delivers a lecture before the students of the University of Sofia, titled NATO in Transition Toward a New Strategic Concept.
On November 25th, the Minister of Internal Affairs to the Republic of Bulgaria Nikolai Mladenov holds a lecture at the Sheraton Hotel, Sofia. The lecture is entitled NATO After Lisbon: the New Tendencies and the New Conception and is organized by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria. Minister Mladenov stresses that NATO continues its evolution from a military alliance to an alliance maintaining global security.

December

A delegation of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria visits South Korea, having been invited by the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During their visit, Dr. Solomon Passy and Maxim Behar have a meeting with South Korean politicians and members of the business sector.

2009

January

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture of H.E. Etienne de Poncins, Ambassador of France in Sofia. The lecture is on the topic France and NATO in Terms of Enhanced European Defence. The event takes place at the Sheraton Hotel in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a party to celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. The event is honored by H.E. Nancy McEldowney, US Ambassador in Sofia, Bulgarian politicians and representatives of the Bulgarian business elite.

March

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by the Ambassador of Japan in Sofia, H.E. Tsuneharu Takeda. The lecture is titled Japan and Bulgaria: Strengthening Partnership.
The Atlantic Club organizes an International Business Conference for Defense and Security under the patronage of H.E. Georgi Parvanov, President of the Republic of Bulgaria. The Conference is organized on the occasion of NATO’s 60 years anniversary and 5 years of Bulgaria in NATO. The event is attended by Dr. Zhelyu Zhelev, H.E. Tove Skarstein, Ambassador of Norway, Tsveta Markova, Chairman of the State Commission on Information Security, Nikolay Tsonev, Minister of Defense.

May

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a Business Forum in Kosovo. The Forum is attended by the Minister of the Interior of Kosovo, the Minister of Economy, representatives of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo, representatives of the World Bank and business representatives from Bulgaria and Kosovo.

June

The Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Youth Club signs a contract with the National Center for European Youth Programs and Initiatives, to implement the project Keep Sofia Green. The project’s duration is 4 months. The aim of the project is the organization of a Youth Initiative, within which to conduct a large-scale campaign to protect the green areas in the territory of Sofia municipality, and to focus on building environmental habits among young people.

September

A delegation from The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria takes part in the 55th General Assembly of the Atlantic Treaty Association in Kiev, Ukraine. The main topic of the Assembly is Security for the Civil Society in the 21st Century.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the Euro-Atlantic Club of Kosovo, organizes a public lecture by H.E. Chris William Dell, U.S. Ambassador in Kosovo. The lecture is attended by members of the Government of Kosovo, representatives of Bulgarian business in Kosovo and members of the diplomatic corps in Kosovo.

November

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the NATO Information Center in Sofia, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of the Economy, Energy and Tourism, the State Commission on Information Security, the Bulgarian Defence Industry, and the Pan-European Movement – Bulgaria, organizes the Annual International Business Conference for Defense and Security. The conference is organized under the patronage of H.E. Boyko Borisov, Prime Minister of Bulgaria. The participants in the conference discuss the New Strategic Concept of NATO and the modernization of the Bulgarian Army.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Pan-European Movement – Bulgaria organize a joint public lecture by two Ambassadors in Sofia – H.E. Paul Beijer, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden, and H.E. Jorge Fuentes, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain. The lecture is held at the Hilton Hotel in Sofia.

December

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the Bulgarian News Agency, the Bulgarian Writers Union and the Bulgarian Media Agency, presents the Bulgarian edition of the Shimon Peres Biography book by Michael Bar-Zohar. The event is held at the National Palace of Culture in Sofia.
Ivan Sotirov, Director of the NATO Information Center in Sofia, is a speaker at the 17th Annual International Symposium of the Greek Association for Atlantic and European Cooperation, The New Strategic Concept of NATO, in Athens, Greece.

2008

February

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the NATO Information Centre in Sofia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Macedonia, the Balkan Forum for Security – Macedonia, the George Marshall – Bulgaria foundation, the State Commission on Information Security – Bulgaria, the State Agency for Information, Technology and Communications – Bulgaria, organizes in Skopje a joint Bulgarian-Macedonian Business Conference on the topic Business supports Macedonia for NATO.
The Manfred Woerner Foundation, with the support of the Balkan Trust for Democracy, organizes a Conference on the topic Inclusion of NGOs in Facilitating the European Integration of Immigrants and two round tables attended by NGOs dealing with the problems of immigrants and refugees, with the special participation of representatives of immigrant communities from Asia, Africa and the Middle East in Bulgaria.

March

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a presentation of the strategic report Bulgarian Policy Towards the Republic of Macedonia: Recommendations for the Development of Good Neighbourly Relations After the Accession of Bulgaria to the EU in the Context of EU Enlargement and NATO in the Western Balkans, published by the Manfred Woerner Foundation in a trilingual edition in Bulgarian, Macedonian and English. The event is held at the Central Military Club in Sofia.

April

The Manfred Wörner Foundation organizes an Information Forum on the topic European Structural Funds: First Impressions and Challenges for the Bulgarian Business. The event is held in Sofia. The participants come from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economy and Energy and the Ministry of labor.

May

The Manfred Wörner Foundation, together with the Center for European Refugees, Migration and Ethnic Studies at New Bulgarian University, organize two round tables, followed by an international conference, as part of the PFAR project Development of Civil Society 2004. The round tables are on the topic Integration Through the Eyes of Immigrants and Migration Studies: National and European Projects. The participants at the Conference include scientists from Great Britain, France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. Both events take place at the Central Military Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the NATO Information Centre, George Marshall – Bulgaria foundation, the State Commission on Information Security, the State Agency for Information Technology and Communications, the Ministry of Economy and Energy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Hermes Foundation and the Bulgarian Defence Industry foundation, organize an International Conference for Security and Defence, in Plovdiv.

July

Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, Chairman of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, delivers a report at an international seminar on the topic of National Identities and Minorities. The seminar takes place in Hidra, Greece.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the NATO Information Center in Sofia, in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Energy and the Ministry of Finance, organizes a conference in Pomorie on the topic Exports of Electricity from Bulgaria – Nuclear Power, Renewable Energy and Other Perspectives. Improved Interaction Between Private Exporters and the State.

August

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the NATO Information Center in Sofia and the State Commission on Information Security organize in Pomorie a seminar on the topic Procedures and Practices Relating to the Protection of Classified Information.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the NATO Information Center in Sofia, together with the Ministry of Defence, organize a conference with the special attendance of Loretta Sanchez, Member of the Committee on Armed Services in the US Congress, Joe Wilson, Chairman of the Friendship Group USA-Bulgaria in the US Congress and a Member of the Committee on Armed Services, and Madeline Bordalo, Member of the US-Bulgarian Friendship Group.

September

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the Ohrid Institute for Economical Strategies and International Relations, organize in the Arka Hotel, Skopje, a workshop on the topic of Development of Conceptual and Political Factors of National and Regional Security. The event is sponsored by the NATO Science program Security Through Science and is attended by security experts from eleven countries from Europe and USA.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the NATO Information Center in Sofia, the Euro-Atlantic Council of Macedonia and the Union of Economic Chamber of Macedonia, organizes a Bulgarian-Macedonian business forum in Skopje.

October

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the NATO Information Center in Sofia, organize a public lecture by H.E. Nancy McEldowney, US Ambassador in Sofia, on the topic New Epoch in Bulgarian-American Relations.

November

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the Economic Chamber of Kosovo, the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Kosovo, the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kosovo and the Association of Municipalities in Kosovo, organizes the Bulgarian-Kosovo Business Forum in Pristina.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the NATO Information Center in Sofia, organizes a Public Lecture of H.E. Yurii Issakov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Sofia, on the topic Consequences of the Crisis in the Caucasus to Find the Solution of Security Issues in the Black Sea Region.

December

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the School for Politics, organizes a public lecture by H.E. Kim Kemble, ex Prime Minister of Canada, on the topic The European Union and Canada: Partnership from Afghanistan to the North Pole.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the NATO Information Center in Sofia, the Bulgarian Academy of Science, the Bulgarian Aerospace Agency and the State Agency for Information, Technology and Communications, organize an Aerospace Conference with two panels – Bulgaria in Space and “Aerospace Technologies – New Horizons for the Military Aviation. The conference is attended by representatives of the state sdministration, the science community and the business sector.

2007

February

The Atlantic Club, in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Energy, and the Ministry of Defense, organize an international conference on Offset in Bulgaria: Topical Issues and Perspectives. The event is held under the auspices, and with the special participation, of H.E. Sergey Stanishev, Prime Minister of Bulgaria, and with the participation of H.E. Rumen Ovcharov, Minister of Economy and Energy of Bulgaria; H.E. Simeon Nikolov, Deputy Minister of Defense; H.E. Solomon Passy, Chairman of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee and Honorary President of The Atlantic Club; H.E. Tsveta Markova, Chairperson of the State Commission on Information Security; H.E. Plamen Vachkov, Chairman of the State Agency for Information Technology and Communications; representatives of defense industry companies, academia and media. The conference takes place at the Central Military Club in Sofia.

March

The Atlantic Club, in cooperation with the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee and the Embassy of Palestine in Bulgaria, organizes a round table discussion on The Future of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Tendencies reflecting the Road Map to peace, with the special participation of H.E. Kamal Al-Sharafi, Advisor of the President of the Palestinian Autonomy. H.E. Dr. Ismail Hassan, Ambassador of the Palestine in Bulgaria; Uri Reznik, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Israel, and Amb. Petko Doykov, Director of the Middle East and the Africa Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, take part in the discussion. The round table takes place at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club organizes a public lecture by H.E. Plamen Oresharski, Minister of Finance of Bulgaria, on Bulgarian Economy – State and Perspectives. The event takes place at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria holds its XI Traditional Annual Atlantic Lunch. Among the invited guests are ambassadors from NATO member states, representatives of Bulgarian and international businesses, politicians and public figures. The lunch venue is the Central Military Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club, in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Energy, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of State Policy for Disasters and Accidents, the State Agency for Information Technology and Communications, and the State Commission on Information Security, organizes an international conference on The Communication and Information Systems (CIS) in the Field of Security in Bulgaria:Euro-Atlantic Dimensions. Among the participants are H.E. Rumen Petkov, Minister of Interior, H.E. Solomon Passy, Chairman of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee and Honorary President of The Atlantic Club, and H.E. Simeon Nikolov, Deputy Minister of Defense. The conference takes place at the Central Military Club in Sofia.
The Manfred Wörner Foundation publishes a study titled Towards New Immigration Policies for Bulgaria. The report is developed within the framework of the project Increasing the Capacity of Non-Governmental Organizations for the Creation of a Public Environment in Favor of the Formation of New Immigration Policies, funded by the PHARE Civil Society Development Program of the EU.

April

The Chairman of The Atlantic Club Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov takes part, as invited panelist, in the conference Security Concepts and Contemporary Policies in Kosovo, organized by the Kosovo Atlantic Association and the FAMA University in Prishtina.
The Atlantic Club organizes a public lecture by H.E. Stefano Manservizi, Managing Director of the General Department of Development at the European Commission, on the topic The European Union as a Global Donor: The Challenges Facing the New Member-States. The event takes place at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.

May

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a round table on the 5th Anniversary of the State Commission on Information Security: Experience, Practices and Necessity for Enhancing the Classified Information Protection Act. The event is held at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel, with the participation of H.E. Tsveta Markova, Chairperson of SCIS, Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, Chairman of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, as well as Bulgarian politicians, government officials, and businessmen.
A delegation of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, led by Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, takes part in the annual Council Meeting of the Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA) held at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria publishes a guide book for the American military who would serve and train at the joint US-Bulgarian military bases under the Defense Cooperation Agreement between Bulgaria and the United States of America. The publication is supported by the Democracy Commission at the US Embassy in Sofia. The booklet, titled Bulgaria: Bezmer and Adjacent Regions – Guide for American Military, includes some general information on the country and its history, as well as descriptions of sightseeing destinations in southeastern Bulgaria, various services offered in the area, such as restaurants, night clubs, sport clubs, taxi companies, banks, stores, swimming pools, tennis courts, local industry, etc. Published in English in 1,500 copies, the guide book is distributed among the US military and is highly praised by diplomats and experts.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria hold a round table with the participation of experts, politicians and scholars, to discuss the new challenges in the bilateral relations between Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia. The event takes place at the Diplomatic Institute’s premises.

June

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, jointly with the Euro-Atlantic Club of Yambol and Bezmer Air Base Commander Gen. Vasil Dimitrov, organize the Bezmer Day, an open day event promoting contacts between the local community and the military serving at the joint Bulgarian-US military facility. The event includes air flight demonstrations attended by several hundred people, among them many children. The Yambol Governor Yordan Koev presents the winners of a high school essay contest on the future of NATO.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Euro-Atlantic Club of Yambol organize a public presentation of the Bezmer Guide Book. The event takes place at the Diana Palace Hotel in Yambol, with the participation of Mincho Spasov, MP and local politicians, businessmen and media. The delegation of The Atlantic Club, led by D. Lyubomir Ivanov, also has a public meeting in the nearby village of Bolyarsko hosted by the village Mayor Donka Atanasova.
The Manfred Wörner Foundation carries out a training seminar on the integration of immigrants, funded by the PHARE 2004 Civil Society Development Program of the EU. Twenty-two representatives of the African, Arab, Kurdish and Afghani immigrant communities discuss human rights, economic and media issues with government, local authorities and NGO experts. The seminar is held in Bankya, Sofia Province.

July

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Rakovski Defense and Staff College, organize a round table on Missile Defense of the USA and NATO: Bulgaria’s Role. Among the participants are H.E. John Byerle, Ambassador of the United States, Jim Engle, US Mission to NATO, and Dr. Solomon Passy, Honorary President of the Club and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Bulgarian National Assembly. Russian Embassy representatives, Bulgarian military, politicians and journalists also take part in the discussion. The event takes place at the Central Military Club in Sofia.

September

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the General Chief of the Bulgarian Army, organize a meeting at the Novo Selo Military Training Range for thirty local community representatives and businessmen with the first U.S.-Bulgarian joint task force training exercise ‘Lion Strike’ Commander Bruce Sones, U.S. Embassy Defense Cooperation Chief Lieut.-Col. Eric Whatley and AmCham Executive Director Valentin Georgiev.
The Euro-Atlantic Youth Club of Yambol, jointly with the Regional Civil Defense Directorate, organize a civil defense workshop for about 30 children and teenagers from the city of Yambol. The event is held at the Diana Palace Hotel in Yambol.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, jointly with the American University in Bulgaria, the Pan-European Movement – Bulgaria, and with the support of UNDP, organize the round table Bulgarian Debate on the Millennium Development Goals, with the participation of H.E. Lyubomir Kyuchukov, Deputy Foreign Minister, Ms. Lene Jespersen, Resident Representative of UNDP Bulgaria, ambassadors, MPs, academic and NGO experts. The event is held at the National Assembly premises.

October

The Professional Training Centre at the Manfred Wörner Foundation, in partnership with Sofia University, organizes a training course, part of the project Development of a Network of Vocational Training Centers for Young People With Disabilities and Resource Teachers for Children With Special Educational Needs Qualification, funded by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy. As a result, ten unemployed people with visual disabilities from the Sofia region obtain their certificates for professional qualification in computer literacy.
The Manfred Wörner Foundation holds a round table, titled Bulgaria’s Policies Towards the Republic of Macedonia, with the participation of the Bulgarian government, academic and NGO experts, discussing the draft Recommendations for the Development of Good Neighbourly Relations Between Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia in the Context of NATO and EU Enlargement in the Western Balkans, prepared by the Foundation. The event takes place at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club hosts a policy meeting with Ms. Colleen Graffy, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and former Professor of Law at Pepperdine University London. The meeting seeks to engage the Ministry of Defense, the General Chief of Staff and NGO experts in outlining new strategies of fostering civil society awareness and involvement in foreign policy issues, such as the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkans, anti-Americanism, etc. The meeting is held at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
The Manfred Wörner Foundation, together with the Centre for European, Refugee, Migration and Ethnic Studies at the New Bulgarian University, organize a second seminar on immigrant integration funded by the PHARE 2004 Civil Society Development Program of the EU. Over forty representatives of the Arab, African, Kurd and Afghan communities, and experts from the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, the State Agency for Refugees, the Legal Clinic for Immigrants and Refugees at the Sofia University, the Confederation of Employers and Industry in Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Media Coalition discuss the role of immigrant organizations in Bulgaria. The seminar takes place in Marchaevo, Sofia Province.
The Atlantic Club organizes a policy meeting with young diplomats from various departments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan. The topics of discussion include the potential for cooperation between Bulgaria and Afghanistan, the current challenges facing Afghanistan, such as Taliban efforts, suicide bomb attacks, collateral civilian casualties, social and economic development, relations with Pakistan, and NATO involvement in Afghanistan. The meeting is held at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
The Manfred Wörner Foundation, in partnership with the Mother and Child Orphanage, Vidin, organizes a conference on drawing the attention of the community towards the problems of people with disabilities and the rights and opportunities for children with disabilities and their families, as part of the project Worthy Life for Children with Serious Disabilities. The conference is held at the Mother and Child Orphanage in Vidin.

November

A delegation of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, led by Dr. Solomon Passy, takes part in the 53rd ATA General Assembly held in Ottawa, Canada.
The Euro-Atlantic Youth Club organizes a youth conference in the city of Ruse, with the participation of Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, Chairman of The Atlantic Club, Dr. Zhivko Georgiev, Director Strategic Studies of the Manfred Wörner Foundation, academics from the New Bulgarian University and students from several Bulgarian universities. Under the project supported by NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division (PDD), winners in the essay contest The Next Generation: A Glance at NATO Development are invited to visit the NATO Headquarters in Brussels. The event is held at the Riga Hotel in Ruse.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria co-organizes a public presentation of the National Codification Instrument, a software product developed by TechnoLogica Ltd and donated by the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense to the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Macedonia. The event is held at the Republic of Macedonia Army Club in Skopje.
The Manfred Wörner Foundation, in cooperation with the Centre for European Refugees, Migration and Ethnic Studies at the New Bulgarian University organizes a debate on Being an Afghan in Bulgaria, with the participation of the Afghan community leaders Mohamed Salem Amoni, Abdul Rahman Rashid and Sher Mohammad Hassani; Nadezhda Stoyanova (Manfred Wörner Foundation), Dimitar Sotirov (Bulgarian Media Coalition) and Zhana Nikolova (Za Grada – “For the City”). The event, supported by the Trust for Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe, is held at Chervenata Kashta (‘The Red House’) venue in Sofia.
Under the patronage of H.E. Sergey Stanishev, Prime Minister of Bulgaria, The Atlantic Club, jointly with the Ministry of Economy and Energy, the Ministry of Defense, the NATO Information Centre in Sofia and the Bulgarian Defense Industry Association, organize an international conference in Sofia on the topic Development of the Offset Policy in Bulgaria, with the participation of H.E. Petar Dimitrov, Minister of Economy and Energy, H.E. Sonya Yankulova and H.E. Simeon Nikolov, Deputy Ministers of Defense, H.E. Tsveta Markova, Chairperson of the State Commission on Information Security, relevant parliamentary committees, foreign and Bulgarian companies from the defense industry and the high technology sector. The event is held at the Central Military Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, supported by the NATO Public Diplomacy Division (PDD), organizes a conference on NATO Security Framework in Afghanistan: Present Challenges and Future Perspectives, with the participation of H.E. Ahmad Nuristani, First Deputy Defense Minister of Afghanistan; H.E. Feim Chaushev, Deputy Foreign Minister of Bulgaria, high ranking NATO officials, US Ambassador John Byerle, Afghanistan Ambassador Mrs. Zahida Ansary, Canadian Ambassador Marta Moszczenska, Gen. Evgeni Manev – Commander of the Rakovski Defense and Staff College, diplomats, senior military from the General Staff of the Bulgarian Army, former Bulgarian mission commanders in Afghanistan, businessmen, media analysts and youth activists. The conference is held at the Radisson Hotel in Sofia.

December

The Chairman of The Atlantic Club Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov gives a lecture titled Kosovo, NATO and EU before the Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) at the Iranian Foreign Ministry. A delegation of the Club, led by him, takes part in a round table organized by IPIS and has a series of meetings with Iranian politicians and think-tank leaders, including Deputy Foreign Minister for Research and Training Manouchehr Mohammadi, Dr. Rasoul Mousavi, Director General of IPIS, Dr. Vahid Karimi, Director of the IPIS Euro-American Center; Abbas Maleki, Chairman of the International Institute for Caspian Studies, and Dr. Bahador Aminian, Rector of the School of International Relations at the Iranian Foreign Ministry. Dr. Ivanov is the guest of the weekly Four Corners Special of the Press TV in Tehran.
The Annual General Assembly of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria is held at the Central Military Club in Sofia.

2006

January

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by the Minister of Defense H.E. Veselin Bliznakov, titled Security and Defense Policy of the Republic of Bulgaria: Priorities and Challenges in 2006. The event takes place at the St. Sofia Hotel.
The Chairman of The Atlantic Club Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, together with the Chairman of the City Council of Bobovdol Eng. Ivan Katsarski and the Mayor of Bobovdol Yordanka Kalenichkova participate in a NATO Day in Bobovdol.

February

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense, organize a NATO Day in the town of Sliven. The event is attended by the special guest H.E. Veselin Bliznakov, Minister of Defense of Bulgaria, H.E. Solomon Passy, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Mr. Yordan Lechkov, Mayor of Sliven City, Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, Chairman of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, as well as ambassadors, military and trade attaches from NATO member and partner countries.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense, organizes a conference on Communication and Information Systems for Transforming the Bulgarian Defense into an Organization with Network Abilities. The conference is attended by the special guest H.E. Veselin Bliznakov, Minister of Defense of Bulgaria. The event is held at the Military Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the State Agency for Information Technology and Communications coorganize a formal presentation of the anniversary edition of Bulgarian Philately titled to Years of Bulgarian Antarctic Cartography.

March

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Euro-Atlantic Club of Yambol organize a public discussion on Bulgarian-American Security Partnership, attended by the special guest H.E. John Beyrle, Ambassador of the USA to Bulgaria. The event is held in Yambol.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and The Atlantic Club of Iraq organize a round table dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the organized Atlantic movement in Central and Eastern Europe, on Topical Problems of the Security and Democratization in Iraq, with the participation of H.E. Jabar Jauer Manda, Deputy Minister of Defense of Iraqi Kurdistan. The event is held at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and The Atlantic Club of Iraq hold a cocktail on occasion of the round table dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the Atlantic movement in Central and Eastern Europe The event is attended by Bulgarian politicians and businessmen, representatives of social organizations, as well as journalists. The cocktail is held at the Topolite Restaurant in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by Gen. Lance Smith, NATO Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation and Commander U.S. Joint Forces Command, titled Military Transformation of NATO. The lecture is held at the Central Military Club in Sofia.

April

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense, organizes a Day of Bulgarian-American Security Partnership in Plovdiv. H.E. Veselin Bliznakov, Minister of Defense of Bulgaria, is the special guest of the event. H.E. Solomon Passy, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, H.E. Gergana Grancharova, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. John Bayrle, Ambassador of the USA in Bulgaria, Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, Chairman of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, as well as ambassadors, military and trade attaches from NATO member States and partners are the other honourable guests of the event.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, jointly with the University of Jacksonville, Florida, organize the 5th edition of the educational seminar Cooperation Between State and Local Authority with the Military Base Located on Their Area: Economic and Political Aspects, with the participation of Bulgarian regional governors, city mayors and businessmen. The program includes visits to the Naval Station Mayport, Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Blount Island Command, US Central Command (CENTCOM) in Tampa and the converted base Cecil Field.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a Welcome Party on the occasion of the international conference The Power of Values and the Value of Power dedicated to the 15th Anniversary of the Atlantic movement in Central and Eastern Europe. The cocktail reception is held at the Krim Restaurant in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense, organize an international conference dedicated to the 15th Anniversary of the Organized Atlantic Movement in Central and Eastern Europe on The Power of Values and the Value of Power. The conference is carried out under the auspices of H.E. Georgi Parvanov, President of Bulgaria. Representatives of several organizations from Bulgaria and abroad take part in it. Among them are H.E. Ivaylo Kalfin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Willem van Eekelen, President of the European Movement, H.E. Veselin Bliznakov, Minister of Defense of Bulgaria, Gen. Nikola Kolev, Chief of General Staff of the Bulgarian Armed Forces, H.E. Todor Churov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, H.E. Solomon Passy, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, Chairman of The Atlantic Club. The event takes place at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Economy and Energy, the State Agency for Information, Technology and Communications, the Ministry of Disaster Management Policy and the State Commission on Information Security, organizes a conference titled Infrastructure and Security – Military, Technical and Economic Dimensions. Among the participants are H.E. Solomon Passy, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Plamen Vachkov, Chairman of the State Agency for Information Technology and Communications, H.E. Radoslav Bozadzhiev, Deputy Minister of Defense, military and commercial attaches from NATO member states. The conference takes place at the conference center at the Burgas Free University.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organize a public lecture by NATO Secretary-General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, on the occasion of the official opening of an exhibition on Bulgarian Army in the Operations and Missions of NATO. The lecture is held at the National Palace of Culture in Sofia.

May

The Chairman of The Atlantic Club Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov represents Bulgaria at the International Conference NATO-Russia Rally. The event is organized in Novosibirsk by the State University of Novosibirsk and the NATO Information Center in Moscow. Dr. Ivanov’s report is on The Future Integration of Russia in the Framework of the Euro-Atlantic Structures.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Embassy of the Republic of Albania organize a gala dinner with the special participation of the President of the Republic of Albania H.E. Alfred Moisiu, on the occasion of his official visit to Bulgaria. The event is held at the Central Military Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes the 10th Annual Atlantic Lunch. Special guest of the event is the President of the Republic of Albania H.E. Alfred Mouisiu.
Among the invited are ambassadors from NATO member states, representatives of the Bulgarian business sector, politicians and public figures. The lunch is held at the Kempinski Zografski Hotel in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Euro-Atlantic Club in Yambol, in cooperation with the US Embassy in Bulgaria, organize a youth workshop on Bulgarian-American Base in Bezmer in the Context of the Municipal Plan for Development.
The workshop is held at the Diana Hotel in Yambol. Representatives of several youth organizations from the city of Yambol, as well as from Sofia, have the opportunity to take part in the discussion, together with the representatives of the local authorities.

June

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Euro-Atlantic Club in Yambol, in cooperation with the US Embassy in Bulgaria, organize a Bezmer Airbase Day in Bezmer. The youth representatives and representatives of the Yambol municipalities continue the discussion on the Plan for Engaging the Bulgarian-American Base in Bezmer in the Regional Strategy of Yambol and the Municipal Plans for Developing the Yambol and Tundzha Municipalities in a follow-up seminar hosted by the Airbase.
The Chairman of The Atlantic Club Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov represents Bulgaria and makes a presentation at the Meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Joint Working Group on Defense Reform — Defense and Security Affairs: What Role for Civil Society. The event takes place in Krakow, Poland.

July

The Manfred Wörner Foundation organizes a regional round table on Immigration Politics and Regional Plans for Development. The round table is organized within the framework of the implementation of the PHARE project Strenghtening the NGO Capacity to Create Public Environment for the Formulation of New Immigration Policies. Representatives of the municipalities, the district administrations, NGOs and think tanks from the southwest planning region of Bulgaria and researchers in migration studies take part in the ensuing discussion. The event is held at the American University in Blagoevgrad.

September

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a cocktail reception on the occasion of the departure of Mr. Plamen Grozdanov as an Ambassador for Russia.The event is held at the Krim Restaurant in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Geneva Centre for Democratic Control of the Armed Forces (DCAF) and the National Assembly of Bulgaria, organize a workshop on Parliamentary Dimension of Defense Procurement. The event takes place at the premises of the National Assembly of Bulgaria.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, with the participation of the Chinese Ambassador, H.E. Yu Zhenqi, organize a presentation of the project New Qinghai-Tibet Railway. The event is held at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the General Staff of the Bulgarian Army, organize a public lecture by General Zlatan Stoykov, Chief of General Staff of the Bulgarian Army, on Participation of the Bulgarian Army in the Construction of European Defensive Abilities. The event takes place at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.

October

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the US Embassy in Bulgaria, the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, and the District Administration of Sliven, organizes a public discussion on Bulgarian-American Security Partnership in Sliven. The participants are H.E. Mihail Rosianu, Ambassador of the Republic of Romania, Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, Mr. Mark Johnson, Economic Officer, Political/Economic Section US Embassy, Mrs. Hristina Cholakova, Governor of the District of Sliven, Dr. Zhivko Georgiev, of the Manfred Werner Foundation.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the US Embassy in Bulgaria, the Embassy of the Republic of Romania, the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee and the Silistra Municipality, organizes an international conference on Security Partnership with the USA: The Bulgarian and Romanian Experience in Silistra. Among the participants are H.E. Mihail Rosianu, Ambassador of the Republic of Romania, Mr. Adrian Nicolaescu, Deputy—Prefect of Constanta, Mr. Brad Freden, Counsellor for Political & Economic Affairs, US Embassy, Col. Manol Bonev, Head of Section, General Staff of the Bulgarian Army, Mr. No Andonov, Mayor of Silistra, Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov. The event takes place at the Drastar Hotel, Silistra.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by Mr. Nedelcho Beronov, Candidate for President of Bulgaria, on the topic Bulgaria Beyond the Communism and After the Transition: Foreign Policy and National Security. The event is held at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Manfred Woerner Foundation organizes a working breakfast for journalists on the occasion of a conference on Bulgarian Immigration Practices in the Context of Making a Common EU Immigration Policy. Among the participants in the event are Dr. Anna Krasteva, President of the Centre for Refugees, Prof. fro Nicolacopoulou Stephanou, President of the Greek Council for Refugees, Mr. Kemal Eyup, Chairman of the Comission for Protection against Discrimination, Krassimir Dachev, Chair of the Bulgarian trade and industry Chamber, Maya Cholakova, Director direction ‘Ethnic and Demographic Issues’, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy. The conference takes place at the St. Sofia Hotel in Sofia.

November

Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov is the honourable guest of the Day of the Bulgarian Spiritual Leaders in Varna. He takes part in the public performance and discussion titled Three Minutes Frankly about Bulgaria and presents Mayor Kiril Yordanov of Varna with a map of Livingston Island showing in particular the peninsula named after Varna.
The Atlantic Club organizes a public lecture by H.E. Antonio Miloshoski, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Macedonia, on the topic Macedonia and NATO. The event takes place at Tarzhestvena Hall, Central Military Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club organizes a public lecture by H.E. John Beyrle, Ambassador of the United States on the topic USA-Bulgaria and the Security of Europe. The event takes place at the Burgas Free University.
The Atlantic Club organizes a public meeting with H.E. John Beyrle, Ambassador of the United States. The event is held at the Community Hall of the city of Aytos.
The Atlantic Club organized a public lecture by H.E. Gela Bezhuashvili, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, on the topic Georgia and NATO. The event takes place at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Club organizes a one-week training seminar for non-government Afghan activists. Among the participants are three representatives from the Afghan public sector, Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, Chairman of The Atlantic Club, Dr Zhivko Georgiev from the Manfred Warner Foundation and Mr. Dimitar Sotirov from the Bulgarian Media Coalition.
The Atlantic Club organizes a round table on the topic The Role of the Public Society in the Restoration of Afghanistan. Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, Chairman of The Atlantic Club, Mr. Maxim Minchev, Director, BTA, Col. Ivan Milanov, Director, Department of Defense Politics, Mr. Babakhan Aslami, Chairman, Aghan Council for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation, Prof. Georgi Lozanov, Bulgarian Media Coalition, and Mohamed Khalaf, journalist, take part in the discussion. The event takes place at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel. A website on the joint Bulgarian-American military facilities is created.
A delegation of The Atlantic Club including the Honorary President Dr. Solomon Passy, Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, and Board Member Maxim Minchev, Director of the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency, takes part in the presentation in Skopje of the Macedonian edition of the book Atlantic Patiences by Mr. Minchev.
Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, Chairman of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, participates in a conference organized by NATO on the topic The Expansion of the Alliance. The event is held in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

December

A delegation of The Atlantic Club, led by Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, Chairman of the Club, has an audience with Pope Benedict XVI on December 6th. His Holiness is presented with a copy of the Bulgarian map of Livingston Island, Antarctica, featuring the Ioannes Paulus II Peninsula named by Bulgaria in appreciation of the contribution of Pope John Paul II to world peace and understanding among people. The delegation includes H.E. Gergana Grancharova, Deputy Foreign Minister; H.E. Solomon Passy, Honorary President of the Club and Chairman of the parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee; Maxim Minchev, Director of the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency; the Bulgarian ambassadors to the Vatican and Italy, as well as prominent businessmen.
A delegation of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria takes part in the 52nd Annual Assembly of the Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA) held in Athens.
The Atlantic Club and the Euro-Atlantic Club of Yambol, with the support of the US Embassy in Sofia, organize a youth seminar on The Bulgarian-American Base of Bezmer and the Municipal Plans for Development of the Yambol District and the Tundzha District. The event takes place in Yambol with the participation of the mayors of Tundzha District, Bolyarsko and Bezmer, the US Cultural Attache, and local government, military and academic experts and businessmen.
The Manfred Woerner Foundation and the Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organize an Atlantic policy meeting with the participation of young Afghan diplomats.
The Atlantic Club organizes an Atlantic policy meeting with experts on the bilateral relations between Balkan states in the context of Bulgaria’s membership in EU and NATO.
The Atlantic Club publishes a study titled The joint Bulgarian-American Military Installations: International and Internal Strategic, Political, Economic and Ecological Consequences from the Bilateral Agreement on Their Positioning on the Territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, commissioned by the Foreign Ministry of Bulgaria and prepared by the non-governmental Security Sector Reform Coalition led by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.

2005

January

The Manfred Wörner Foundation, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute, organize the Bulgarian topographic survey Tangra 2004/05 on Livingston Island, Antarctica, from November 2004 to January 2005.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria operates the Post Office of Tangra 1991 on behalf of the Bulgarian Posts during the Austral summer 2004/05, situated at Camp Academia, Livingston Island, Antarctica.

February

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, jointly with the University of Jacksonville, Florida, organizes the 3rd edition of the educational seminar Cooperation Between Municipality and Military Base, with the participation of Bulgarian regional governors, city mayors, local councilors and businessmen. The program includes visits to the Naval Station Mayport, Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Blount Island Command, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) in Tampa and the converted base Cecil Field.
The Atlantic Club, with the support of the NATO Public Diplomacy Division, and in cooperation with the Institute for Regional and International Studies, the Institute for Security and International Studies, and the Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organizes the international conference Atlantic Partnership for Strengthening Stability in South Caucasus, held at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.

March

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the General Staff of the Bulgarian Army organize a public lecture by Adm. Edmund Giambastiani, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation and Commander, US Joint Forces Command. The event is held at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Bulgarian Euro Atlantic Youth Club and the Faculty of Geology and Geography at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski organize a public lecture on the achievements of the Bulgarian Antarctic expedition Tangra of 2004/05. The presentation is made by the expedition team comprising Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov and Doychin Vasilev and is held in the Main Aula of Sofia University.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Radnevo Municipality, organizes a public lecture by Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov and Doychin Vasilev, titled Livingston Island: Bulgaria’s Other Extremity. The lecture is held at the Radnevo Town Hall.

April

The Chairman of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov and the prominent Bulgarian alpinist Doychin Vasilev give an invited lecture at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on their topographic survey work on Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, from November 2004 to January 2005, resulting in the adoption of new Bulgarian toponyms of Antarctic geographical features and subsequently the publication of the first Bulgarian map of the Island.
The 9th Annual Atlantic Lunch of The Atlantic Club solemnly commemorates the First Anniversary of Bulgaria’s membership of the Alliance. The event is held at the Central Military Club in Sofia, with the participation of H.E. Angel Marin, Vice-President of Bulgaria, Gen. Nikola Kolev, Chief of General Staff of Bulgarian Army, and Amb. Lyubomir Ivanov, Permanent Representative of Bulgaria to NATO.

May

The Club, supported by the German Marshall Fund – US, publishes the strategic report Early Warning and Policy Perspectives in the Trans-Atlantic Security Agenda: Central and East European Point of View, with the contribution of authors from The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria; the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington D.C.; the George C. Marshall Association – Bulgaria; the Center for International Relations, Warsaw; the Estonian School of Diplomacy; the Institute for Security and International Studies, Sofia; the Bulgarian Military Academy; the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry; and the Ministry of Defense of Estonia.

June

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Burgas Chapter of the Club organize a public meeting with H.E. Solomon Passy, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria and Honorary President of the Club, on The European Future of the City of Burgas and the Burgas Region. The event is held at the Aqua Hotel Burgas and is accompanied by a photo exhibition presenting the political biography of Minister Passy, with a students’ art competition taking place as well.

July

The Club organizes a round table titled Federal Iraq and the Challenges and Opportunities of Bulgaria’s Contribution to the Reconstruction of the Country with the participation of H.E. Hayder Al-Barrak, Ambassador of Iraq to Bulgaria. The event takes place at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, jointly with the General Staff of the Bulgarian Army, organizes a public lecture by Gen. Rolando Mosca Moschini, Chairman of the EU Military Committee. The lecture is held at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.

September

The Atlantic Club, supported by the NATO Public Diplomacy Division and the Open Society Institute – Sofia, organize the first Bulgarian-Iraqi NATO Week, with the participation of a nine-person delegation of Iraqi Atlanticists led by Dr. Khairi Saleh, President; Dr. Jassim Thamir, Secretary General; and Dr. Mizher Abbas, Director, Reconstruction of Iraq Program of The Atlantic Club of Iraq. The series of events starts with a training seminar for the Iraqi activists held at the NATO Information Center in Sofia.
The Manfred Wörner Foundation organizes an Atlantic Policy Meeting on the challenges of democratic transformation of Iraq, with the participation of leaders and activists of the Iraqi Atlantic Club, H.E. Hayder Al-Barrak, Ambassador of Iraq, H.E. Valeri Rachev, Ambassador of Bulgaria in Iraq. The meeting discusses the latest political developments in Iraq, the new Iraqi Constitution, the October 15 Referendum, the vision and mission of the Iraqi Atlantic Club.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and The Atlantic Club of Iraq hold a joint press conference at the National Press Club of the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency, presenting the highlights of the Bulgarian-Iraqi NATO Week and the mission of NATO and the role of The Iraq Atlantic Club in the public and political life of the country.
The Chairman of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, the President of The Atlantic Club of Iraq Dr. Khairi Saleh, Dr. Jassim Thamir, Secretary General, and Dr. Mizher Abbas, Director for Reconstruction of the Iraq Program of the Iraqi Club, give invited testimony before a hearing of the Foreign Policy Committee of the Bulgarian Parliament on the Bulgarian contribution to the reconstruction and building of democratic Iraq.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a meeting of the Iraqi Atlantic Club delegation with Bulgarian business leaders.
The Atlantic Club and the Bulgarian General from the Staff of the Military Academy Georgi S. Rakovski organize a round table discussion with the delegation of The Atlantic Club of Iraq and the Academy command staff and lecturers who train officers participating in Bulgarian Armed Forces missions abroad.
The Atlantic Club and the Plovdiv Chapter of the Club organize a visit by the Iraqi Atlantic Club delegation to Plovdiv and a public meeting at the Plovdiv Atlantic Complex.

October

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a meeting of the Iraqi Atlantic Club delegation with Dr. Nikola Nikolov, Chairman of the State Agency of Civil Defense.
The Atlantic Club organizes a meeting of the Iraqi Atlantic Club delegation with Dr. Matey Mateev, Deputy Minister of Health, and a visit to the Military Medical Academy in Sofia.
The Club organizes a meeting of the Iraqi Atlantic Club delegation with Prof. Zdravko Popov, Director of the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Atlantic Club, supported by the NATO Public Diplomacy Division and by the Open Society Institute – Sofia, organize an international conference titled Prospective Ways and Solutions for Enhancing Stability and Security in Iraq with the participation of H.E. Gergana Grancharova, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and H.E. Zhelyu Zhelev, President of Bulgaria (1990 – 97), diplomats, experts from MFA, MoD, business, NGO think tanks, academia and media.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria prepares and publishes the brochure Iraq and NATO: Atlantic Solidarity and Partnership (in Arabic, 2,000 copies) to be disseminated in Iraq to promote Atlantic values and partnership.
Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, Chairman of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, and Dr. Khairi Saleh, President of The Atlantic Club of Iraq, lead a delegation of nine leaders and activists of the Iraqi Club on a visit to NATO Headquarters in Brussels, where they have meetings with Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, Secretary-General of NATO, and with Amb. Lyubomir Ivanov, Permanent Representative of Bulgaria to NATO.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, jointly with the University of Jacksonville, Florida, organizes the 4th edition of the educational seminar Cooperation between Municipality and Military Base, with the participation of Bulgarian regional governors, city mayors, local councilors and businessmen. The program includes visits to the Naval Station Mayport, Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Blount Island Command, US Central Command (CENTCOM) in Tampa and the converted base Cecil Field.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by H.E. John Beyrle, Ambassador of the USA in Bulgaria. The event is held at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.

November

The Honorary President of The Atlantic Club and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy Dr. Solomon Passy and the Chairman of the Club Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov take part in the official opening of the Euro-Atlantic Club of Yambol, the local Chapter of The Atlantic Club. They also visit the site of the designated joint US-Bulgarian military facility, the Bezmer Air Force Base.
The NATO Information Center, the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA), organize the international conference Strengthening Black Sea Maritime Security. The event is officially opened by the ATA Secretary General, Troels Frøling, with the participation of the Honorary President of The Atlantic Club Dr. Solomon Passy, the US and UK аmbassadors, and participants from NATO, UK, Turkey, Romania, Georgia, Greece, as well as MoD and MFA.
The Atlantic Club organizes a remake of the 1998 meeting between Bulgarian Atlanticists and H.M. Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha that took place at the Meridian Lisbon Hotel; the new edition of the event, initiated by ex-Foreign Minister and Honorary President of the Club Solomon Passy and PR leader Maxim Behar is held at the Festa Barceló Sofia Hotel. The honorary guest makes a program speech and is presented by The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, with an icon of Saint Nikolas and a Bulgarian topographic map of Livingston Island, Antarctica.

December

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by H.E. Meglena Kuneva, Minister of European Affairs, titled Why Bulgaria Could Become a Member of EU on 1st January 2007. The event is held at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Club, together with the Ministry of Economy and Energy, and the Ministry of Defense, organizes a round table titled The Offset Program: An Efficient Mechanism for Economic Development and Technology Transfer, with the special participation of H.E. Rumen Ovcharov, Minister of Economy and Energy. The event is held at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by Gen. Ray Henault, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee. The lecture, titled NATO’s Continuing Transformation, is held at the Central Military Club in Sofia.

2004

January

Within the framework of the US-EU-Bulgarian Action Commission, The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a visit by Commission Co-Director Dr. Janusz Bugajski, Director of the East European Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies of Washington, D.C., who meets with high-ranking Bulgarian statesmen and senior officials.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the General Staff of the Bulgarian Armed Forces, organizes a public lecture by General James L. Jones, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, at Sofia’s G. S. Rakovski Command and Staff College.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the Ellion Arts Foundation, organizes a public lecture by the International Federation of Christian Artists Chairman Leen La Riviere, at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the NATO Information Center organize a public lecture by Jose Maria Lopez Navarro, Liaison officer at NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division, at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by EuroComment Chairman and Centre for European Policy Studies Founding Director Peter Ludlow, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiar Zibari, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
Within the framework of the US-EU-Bulgaria Action Commission, The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes business seminars with the special participation of George Handy, Director of International Action Commissions at the Center for Strategic and International Studies of Washington, D.C., at Sofia’s American Center.

February

The Manfred Woerner Foundation organizes the Atlantic Policy Meeting No. 1 with the participation of representatives of the American Jewish Committee and foreign policy and security experts from the Bulgarian non-governmental sector, members of the Security Sector Reform Coalition, led by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the George C. Marshall Association-Bulgaria, at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia. Topics discussed include: U.S.-Bulgarian Strategic partnership; EU/NATO membership; Iraq; Anti-Semitism; OSCE.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a working discussion with the special participation of the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Robert Bradtke and US Permanent Representative to the OSCE Ambassador Steve Minikes, at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a Round-Table Discussion on The Role of NATO in the Democratic Transformation of Afghanistan, with the special participation of Baba Khan Aslami of the Afghanistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia. Afghan diplomats visit Bulgaria at The Atlantic Club’s invitation, as part of preparatory work for the establishment of an Atlantic NGO in Afghanistan.
The Manfred Woerner Foundation organizes an Atlantic Policy Meeting No. 2 with the participation of Dr. Janusz Bugajski of the Center for Strategic and International Studies of Washington, D.C., and members of the Security Sector Reform Coalition, focused on identifying foreign and security policy priorities in the US-EU-Bulgarian Action Commission work, at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by the European Affairs Minister Meglena Kouneva, on The New Priorities of EC Financial Framework for 2007 – 2013, at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture.

March

The Atlantic Club Chairman, Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, and Dr. Velizar Shalamanov, in charge of Strategic Studies at The Atlantic Club, are guest speakers at the educational seminar Reporting Defence and Security for journalists of Southeast Europe, at Sofia’s Saint Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria mails leaflets to 1,500,000 Bulgarian households, congratulating them on Bulgaria’s accession to NATO that became effective on 29th March 2004.
The Atlantic Club initiates and co-organizes public festivities at a number of Bulgarian cities.

April

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a series of events dedicated to Bulgaria’s accession to the North Atlantic Alliance, starting with a formal introduction ceremony for commemorative postage stamps at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel, followed by draping the Parliament’s building in Bulgarian and NATO flags, and by a public concert on Saint Alexander Nevsky Square.
The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov hoists a NATO flag at an official Bulgarian ceremony in Kabul, Afghanistan, celebrating Bulgaria’s accession to NATO. During the visit to Kabul, Dr. Ivanov grants The Atlantic Club Golden Award to Bulgarian contingent commanders in Afghanistan, Lieutenant Colonel Asen Raslanov and Major Nikolai Ordaliev, during a special ceremony in presence of Allied military personnel from the 28 ISAF nations.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes an 8th Atlantic Lunch. NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer is invited as a special guest and lecturer.
The Chairman of The Atlantic Club Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov takes part as guest speaker at the annual International Conference of the Albanian Atlantic Association, titled an International Cooperation for Peace, Security and Prosperity in South-Eastern Europe. The event is held at the Palace of Congresses, Tirana.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the Bulgaria Foundation, organize a public lecture by Prof. Carl Djerassi, held at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by H.E. Kostyantin Grishchenko, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. The event takes place at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.

May

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a round table titled The Democratic Reconstruction of Iraq: The Role of the International Community and Bulgaria. The event is the seventh round table on Iraq held by The Atlantic Club and the Manfred Wörner Foundation in the last four years, and takes place at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club, jointly with the University of Jacksonville, Florida, organizes a second edition of the business seminar titled Cooperation of Municipalities with Military Base, with the participation of Bulgarian regional governors and city mayors. The seminar also includes visits to the US Central Command (CENTCOM) in Tampa and other US military bases.
The Manfred Wörner Foundation publishes Report #6 of the Security Sector Reform Coalition, an NGO coalition led by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the George C. Marshall Center – Bulgaria. The report, titled NATO Membership and the Challenges Facing the Bulgarian Parliament, is commissioned by the 39th National Assembly.
The Manfred Wörner Foundation organizes its Atlantic Policy Meeting #3 and Atlantic Policy Meeting #4 with the participation of generals attending the US National Defense University courses and graduates of the US National War College.
The VIII Annual Atlantic Lunch of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria is held at the Kempinski Hotel Zografski in Sofia, in the presence of Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Keynote speaker at the event is NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, who is granted the Golden Award of The Atlantic Club for his outstanding contribution to the promotion of Atlantic values and solidarity.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Branch of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) organize the award ceremony of the III Annual Award Migrant of the Year, given to the famous Bulgarian football player Krasimir Balakov. The ceremony, attended by Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov takes place at the National Stadium Vasil Levski in Sofia.
The Chairman of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov takes part as a guest speaker at the International Conference From the Adriatic Charter to Full Membership, organized by the Euro-Atlantic Club of Macedonia.
The Chairman of The Atlantic Club Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov takes part as guest speaker at the IV Conference on Atlanticism organized by the Hungarian Atlantic Council, titled What Now? What Next? Trans-Atlantic Cooperation at a Crossroads: Old Issues and New Answers.

June

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Aikido Association organize an exhibition of Edward Germanov, titled Sho Do Calligraphy, as well as the announcement of Minister Solomon Passy’s II Dan. The event takes place at the Stalbata Gallery, Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the European Institute and the Paneuropa Movement, in cooperation with the EU Delegation in Bulgaria, organize a public lecture by the EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Günter Verheugen. The event is held at Sofia University.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, with the cooperation of the Open Society Institute, organize a four-day training seminar for activists of the newly established Afghanistan Council for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation. The seminar is held in Sofia and Plovdiv.
The Manfred Wörner Foundation organizes its Atlantic Policy Meeting #5 and Atlantic Policy Meeting #6 with the participation of former Prime Minister Ivan Kostov, a group of activists of the Afghanistan Euro-Atlantic Council led by the President of the Council, Mr. Baba Han Aslami, and representatives of the member organizations of the Security Sector Reform Coalition.
The Atlantic Club presents a book titled The Future of the Falkland Islands and Its People, by Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, based on his public lecture given in Stanley, in the Falkland Islands. The event, featuring a special introduction by former President Zhelyu Zhelev and Constitutional Court judge Evgeni Tanchev, takes place at the Central Military Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the Afghanistan Euro-Atlantic Council and the Balkan News Corporation present a new documentary film, Mission Afghanistan, by Venelin Petkov and Ivan Filchev, produced with the cooperation of The Atlantic Club. The event is held at the National Palace of Culture, Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a cocktail reception on the occasion of the establishment of an The Atlantic Club of Iraq, attended by the President of the Iraqi Club, Dr. Khairi Saleh, which takes place at the Kosharite Restaurant, Sofia.
The Club and the Lyudmila Zhivkova – Banner of Peace Foundation, under the auspices of President Georgi Parvanov, organize the III Annual Celebration of the International Children’s Day at the Bells Monument in Sofia. On the occasion, the Speaker of Parliament Prof. Ognyan Gerdzhikov inaugurates a Monument to the Victims of Terrorism, erected with the support of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.
Тhe Burgas Chapter of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a concert of Goran Bregovich, dedicated to Bulgaria’s accession to NATO. The event takes place at the Chernomoretz Stadium in Burgas, and highlightes the Balkan contribution of Bulgaria and Romania to the multicultural values of the Alliance.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Institute of History of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and the Central Military Archives in Veliko Tarnovo, holds a public presentation of the documents collection The Bulgarian-Turkish Relations During the First World War 1914-1918, compiled by Mr. Kemal Eyup, MP. The event takes place at the Central Military Club in Sofia.
А delegation of The Atlantic Club visits the city of Yambol and the Bezmer Air Force Base, on an invitation by the local Governor and the Base Commander. Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov is a keynote speaker at the public discussion titled The New Global Role of NATO and the Place of Bulgaria in it.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a NATO Day in the town of Radnevo. The event includes a public lecture by Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, titled The Challenges in front of Bulgaria, Connected with her Membership in NATO and her Future Membership in the EU, as well as a visit to the Maritsa Iztok coal mines and the Maritsa Iztok II and III power plants.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria launches its newly designed and thoroughly updated website www.natoinfo.bg.
The Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Youth Club organizes a reception at the Lozenets Residence in Sofia on the occasion of the Sofia stop of the Balkan NATO bus. Under the project, implemented by the Euro-Atlantic Club of Macedonia, students from the Balkan countries, including eight activists of the Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Youth Club, pass through Belgrade, Zagreb, Sarajevo, Tirana, Skopje and Sofia on their way to the student summit in Istanbul, organized by the US Atlantic Council and the Atlantic Treaty Association.

July

The US-EU-Bulgaria Action Commission in cooperation with the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria organize a panel on defense procurement and offset policies within the international conference titled NATO Membership: Trade and Investment Opportunities in Southeastern Europe.
The Atlantic Club, in cooperation with the British NGO Links, organizes the Second Plenary Assembly of the Parliament Initiative of Southern Caucasus, including a round table titled The Situation of Southern Caucasus in Changing Europe. The event takes place at the Radisson SAS Hotel, Sofia.
The Manfred Wörner Foundation organizes its Atlantic Policy Meeting #7 with the participation of academics from the Southern Caucasus republics.
The Manfred Wörner Foundation organizes its Atlantic Policy Meeting #8 with the participation of Dr. Rubar S. Sandi.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with The Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and The Bulgarian Economic Chamber, organizes a public discussion of H. E. Patrick Cox, President of the European Parliament, titled The situation of Bulgaria in the renewing European Union. The event takes place at the Sheraton Hotel, Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and The Atlantic Club of Iraq organize a reception on the occasion of the arrival of Dr. Rubar S. Sandi. The event takes place at the Academia Hall, Sofia.
The Atlantic Club and the Pro-Macedonia Club organize a public presentation of the book Macedonia: The Supreme Beauty, by Mrs. Dosta Dimovska, former Vice Prime Minister of Macedonia. The event takes place at the Central Military Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the General Staff of the Bulgarian Army, organize a public discussion of General Richard Myers, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. The event took place at the Sheraton Hotel, Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public presentation of the book Atlantic Solitaire by Mr. Maxim Minchev, Member of the Council, founding member of the Club, and incumbent General Director of the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency. The book presents an amply documented and illustrated history of The Atlantic Club since its establishment in 1991.

2003

January

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by Lithuanian Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture on The Latest Development of the Middle East Peace Process by former Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture on Bulgaria in NATO: The Responsibility for Assumed Obligations by Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha at Sofia’s Kempinski Hotel Zografski (attendance: 500-plus).
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria presents NGO Report No. 4 on The Readiness of Bulgaria to Join NATO, commissioned by the Bulgarian Parliament and prepared by the Security Sector Reform Coalition, an NGO coalition led by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the George C. Marshall Center-Bulgaria. The Coalition also includes the Institute of Euro-Atlantic Security, the University for the National and World Economy, the Institute for Regional and International Studies, the Centre for National Security and Defence Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the Institute for Security Studies and International Relations, Society and Information Foundation.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria hosts the 7th Annual Atlantic Lunch under the auspices of Bulgaria’s Vice President Angel Marin, attended by Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, Honorary President of The Atlantic Club, Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofiyanski and Ambassadors of NATO Member States, at Grand Hotel Bulgaria. The еvent is dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the rescue of Bulgarian Jews from the Holocaust.

February

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a round-table discussion on The International Community Action to Disarm Iraq, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov visits the St. Clement of Ochrida Bulgarian Antarctic Base and the Juan Carlos I Spanish Base on Livingstone Island, in his capacity as Chairman of the Antarctic Place-names Commission of Bulgaria and member of the Inter-Ministerial Working Group on Antarctica, together with the official Bulgarian delegation to Antarctica, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Katya Todorova.

March

The Atlantic Club Chairman and Manfred Woerner Foundation President Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov meets with Falkland Islands Government legislative councillors and delivers a public lecture on The Future of the Falkland Islands and its People, in Stanley, Falkland Islands.
The NATO Information Centre organizes focus groups and seminars on the Implementation of European Standards for the Integration of Ethnic and Cultural Minorities in Bulgarian Armed Forces, sponsored by the Phare Access Programme, in Varna and Plovdiv.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a round-table discussion on The Iraqi Crisis and the Differences of Opinions in the EU, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Manfred Woerner Foundation and the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, in cooperation with the Sofia Branch Office of UNHCR, organize a round-table discussion on The Protection of Human Rights and the Perspective of Creating a Democratic Society in Iraq, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Finnish Embassy, organizes a public lecture by Finland’s Defence Minister Jan-Erik Enestam, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.

April

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy delivers a public lecture on Populism and Justice, organized by The Atlantic Club with the support of the Zhelyu Zhelev Foundation and the Centre for Political Dialogue, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Bulgarian National Television, presents Under the Sign of the Southern Cross, a documentary by Albena Vodenicharova and Emilian Dinov, at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture. The Film tells about the visit of an official Bulgarian delegation to Antarctica in February 2003.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Romanian Embassy in Sofia, organizes a public lecture by Romania’s President Ion Iliescu on Integration and Globalization: a View from Romania, and a promotion of the Bulgarian version of his book of the same title at Sofia’s Kempinski Hotel Zografski.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the Initiative Committee for Democracy in Iraq, and Economic Policy Institute organize a round-table discussion on The Bulgarian Participation in the Rebuilding of Post-war Iraq, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Youth Club, in cooperation with the Resource Center Foundation, organizes a seminar on The Conflict in Iraq and the Role of Bulgaria in the New Security System, at the Bulgarian Haskovski Mineralni Bani Hotel.
The Ministry of Defence, in cooperation with The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Security Sector Reform Coalition, organizes a round-table discussion on The Strategic Defence Review and its Dimensions, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.

May

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Red Cross, under the auspices of Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy organize a charity concert called The Best of Laureate and Voodoo Violin: Vasko Vasilev, at the Ancient Amphitheatre of Plovdiv.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Free University of Bourgas, in cooperation with the Turkish Embassy in Sofia, organize a public lecture by Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, at the Bourgas Free University.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with Saferworld, United Kingdom, organizes a round-table discussion on Bulgaria: Achievements and Challenges in Arms Export Control and Combat of Small Arms Proliferation, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organizes a commemoration of the Centennial of Bulgarian-American diplomatic relations with the participation of US Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, who addresses more than 3,000 people in Sofia’s Knyaz Alexander Battenberg Square.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by Canadian Secretary of State (Central and Eastern Europe and Middle East) Gar Knutson, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and with the participation of NATO Assistant Secretary-General for Public Diplomacy Jean Fournet, organizes a round-table discussion on The New Challenges of NATO: Security, Science and Society, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Aikido Foundation, in cooperation with the Japanese Embassy in Sofia, open an exhibition on Calligraphy and Sumi-e by Hiroshi Tajiri Shihandai, presented in the Exhibition Hall of the Union of Architects in Bulgaria.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Aikido Foundation, in cooperation with the Japanese Embassy in Sofia, under the auspices of Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy and First Dan Aikido, organizes a demonstration of Aikido by Hiroshi Tajiri Shihandai, and the concert Blues and Aikido against drugs by the Poduene Blues Band, at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture on The Evolution of the Public in Art by Anna Grega, Project Director with the Australian Council for the Arts, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Manfred Woerner Foundation, jointly with the Right to Defence Foundation and the Greek Council for Refugees, holds a press conference on Will Bulgaria take advantage of the growing flow of immigrants and refugees? at the Sofia Press Agency. The event includes the presentation of legal and sociological reports on immigration to Bulgaria, part of a project sponsored by the Phare Access Programme.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the German Marshall Fund of the United States, organizes a seminar on the Integration Period after the Prague Summit: Upcoming Challenges, at Varna’s Festival and Congress Centre.

June

On occasion of the World Refugee Day, the Manfred Woerner Foundation and the Sofia Branch Office of UNHCR organize a press conference on the Integration of Immigrants and Refugees in Bulgarian Society.
The Manfred Woerner Foundation holds a training seminar for immigrant and refugee NGO activists and community leaders in Varna under the Phare Access Programme.
Former US Ambassador to Bulgaria Avis T. Bohlen delivers a public lecture, organized by The Atlantic Club, at Sofia’s Central Military Club.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Lyudmila Zhivkova – Banner of Peace Foundation, in cooperation with the National Educational Complex of Culture, and under the auspices of Bulgaria’s President Georgi Parvanov, organize a celebration of the International Children’s Day. During the event, held at The Bells Monument in Sofia, the newly established Future of Bulgaria Academy is inaugurated by commending six children for their internationally recognized outstanding achievements in science, arts and sport, with their names engraved on a special wall of the Monument.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria presents NGO Report No. 5 on The Readiness of Bulgaria to Join NATO, commissioned by the Bulgarian Parliament and prepared by the Security Sector Reform Coalition.
The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov participates in the 26th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Madrid as member of the Bulgarian delegation.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Youth Club, organizes the AAYPL General Assembly: NATO after Prague: Transformation, New Members, Opportunities and Participation.

July

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, jointly with the Euro-Atlantic Club of Vratsa, organizes the America Day celebrations on occasion of 4th of July, US Independence Day, in Vratsa.
The Atlantic Club’s Plovdiv Chapter organizes a round-table discussion on National Security and Regional Development: The Case of Eastern Europe, at Plovdiv’s St. Petersburg Hotel.
The Manfred Woerner Foundation holds a regional press conference on the integration of immigrants and refugees in Bulgaria, and the need of new immigration policies, in Haskovo, within a project sponsored by the Phare Access Programme.
The Manfred Woerner Foundation holds a regional press conference on the integration of immigrants and refugees in Bulgaria, and the need of new immigration policies, at Bourgas’s Bulgaria Hotel.
The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, participates in a discussion on the Communication Strategy of Bulgaria’s Membership of NATO, organized by the NGO Centre in Bourgas and The Atlantic Club Bourgas Chapter.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Bulgarian Diplomatic Association, organizes a public lecture on Croatia on the Way to the EU by Croatia’s President Stjepan Mesic, at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by Geoffrey Van Orden MEP, Rapporteur on Bulgaria at the European Parliament, at Sofia’s Kempinski Hotel Zografski.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a ceremony of presentation to Shefket Chapadjiev of Migrant of the Year Award from the International Organization for Migration Country Mission in Bulgaria, at Sofia’s The Earth and Man National Museum.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Center for the Study of Democracy organize a farewell party in honour of Roderick Moore, US Deputy Chief of Mission in Sofia, attended by Bulgarian Foreign Minister, Solomon Passy, at the Center for the Study of Democracy.

August

The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov gives a joint press conference with Former Iraqi interim Foreign Minister Mohammed Amin, visiting Bulgaria at The Atlantic Club invitation, at Varna’s Festival and Congress Centre.

September

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Danish Embassy in Sofia, organizes a public lecture on The Trans-Atlantic Relations and the Enlargement of NATO and EU by Denmark’s Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, at Sofia’s Kempinski Hotel Zografski.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a ceremony of presentation to NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson of Bulgarian civil society’s Atlantic Solidarity Award, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel. The Prize, instituted by the Manfred Woerner Foundation, is awarded by a jury comprising representatives of Security Sector Reform Coalition led by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the George C. Marshall Center-Bulgaria.
The NATO Information Centre and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organize a conference on Modern Arms Export Control in the Process of Bulgaria’s Accession to NATO, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the NATO Information Centre organize a conference on the Implementation of European Standards for Integration of Ethnic and Cultural Minorities in the Bulgarian Army, under a project supported by the Phare Access Programme, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The NATO Information Centre organizes a regional Round-Table Discussion on The US Role and Regional Cooperation in Southeast Europe: Challenges ahead after Prague on the Way to NATO and EU.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Open Society Foundation organize a US-Bulgarian Conference commemorating the Centennial of Bulgarian-American diplomatic relations, on Bulgarian-American relations: The Way Ahead, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Manfred Woerner Foundation, jointly with the Right to Defence Foundation and the Greek Council for Refugees, organize a round-table discussion on the need of new immigration policies in Bulgaria, under a project sponsored by the Phare Access Programme, at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture.

October

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the UK Embassy in Sofia, organize a public lecture by the UK Minister for Europe Dennis McShane, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Czech Embassy in Sofia, organize a public lecture by the Czech Republic’s Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Manfred Woerner Foundation organizes an inaugural conference of the National Association of Immigrants in Bulgaria, at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria publishes a brochure entitled Bulgarian-American Relations: The Way Ahead, comprising addresses by dignitaries at the September US-Bulgarian Conference commemorating a Centennial of Bulgarian-American diplomatic relations.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) of Washington, D.C., launch an institutional partnership aimed at establishing a US-Bulgaria Action Commission.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by Lord Howell of Guildford, Conservative Party official and Foreign Policy Spokesman in the House of Lords, on A Europe of Equals, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, jointly with the Bulgarian Diplomatic Society and the Center for the Study of Democracy, organizes a public lecture on Advancing Democracy: Challenges of the Future by Switzerland’s President Pascal Couchepin, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.

November

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Committee for Solidarity and Support of the Bulgarian Contingent in Karbala, Iraq, organize a public lecture by Karbala Mayor Akram Mahdi, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
A delegation led by The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov participates in an annual ATA General Assembly in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria presents NGO Report No. 6 on The Readiness of Bulgaria to Join NATO, commissioned by the Bulgarian Parliament and prepared by the Security Sector Reform Coalition, NGO coalition led by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the George C. Marshall Center – Bulgaria.
The Manfred Woerner Foundation and The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria publish a brochure entitled The Future of the Falkland Islands and its People, comprising a lecture delivered by The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, in Stanley, Falkland Islands, as well as relevant comments by politicians, scientists and analysts from all over the world.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a remake of a dinner that brought Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and Club members together in Lisbon five years ago.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Security Sector Reform Coalition, jointly with the American Center in Sofia, organize a round-table discussion on Parliamentary Control of the Security Sector and the Role of Civil Society as a Key Element of Civil-Military Relations, with the participation of Prof. Gregory Foster of the US Industrial College of Armed Forces, at Sofia’s American Center.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria launches a redesigned and thoroughly updated website, www.natoinfo.bg.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the NATO Information Centre organize a round-table Discussion on One year after the NATO Prague Summit, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel. The event includes award ceremonies of the student contest of the Euro-Atlantic Youth Club, and of The Atlantic Club Golden Award.

2002

January

Bulgaria’s President Georgi Parvanov addresses The Atlantic Club in a lecture on The Foreign Policy Priorities of Bulgaria, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel (attendance: 1,000-plus).
Turkey’s Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit addresses The Atlantic Club in a lecture on Global Challenges to Security and Stability: The Balkan Dimension, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel (attendance: 500-plus).
The Atlantic Club organizes a seminar on Implementation of European and Atlantic Security Standards and its Effect on Bulgarian Society, in Plovdiv.

February

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria hosts the 6th Annual Atlantic Lunch, under the auspices of Bulgaria’s Vice President Angel Marin, attended by NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, Honorary President of The Atlantic Club, Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofiyanski and Ambassadors of NATO and PfP countries.
NATO Day in Plovdiv, organized by The Atlantic Club, with the participation of France’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Jean-Loup Kuhn-Delforge. A hall at the Plovdiv Fair Congress Centre is named “Atlantic Hall”.
Italian Foreign Trade Minister Adolfo Urso addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the George C. Marshall Center-Bulgaria and the Centre for National Security and Defence Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Science organize a round-table discussion on C4 Systems and the Invitation to Join NATO in 2002 – Key Projects and Technologies: the Role of Administration, Business and Academic Sector.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a round-table discussion on Bulgaria’s Decision to Join NATO: 5 Years Later, attended by Bulgaria’s ex-President Zhelyu Zhelev and Sofia Mayor and ex-Prime Minister Stefan Sofiyanski, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a ceremony for the presentation of the Black Belt (First Dan) to Solomon Passy for promoting Aikido in Bulgaria. A Demonstration of Aikido and a calligraphy by Shihanday Tadzhiri Sensey follows.
The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov participates as a key-note speaker in the Conference on Ethnic Conflict in Southeast Europe in Ljubljana, sponsored by the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies.
The Atlantic Club organizes a seminar on the Implementation of European and Atlantic Security Standards and its Effect on Bulgarian Society in Plovdiv.
NGO Report No. 1 on The Readiness of Bulgaria to Join NATO, commissioned by the Bulgarian Parliament and prepared by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria jointly with the George C. Marshall Association, the Manfred Woerner Foundation, the Centre for National Security and the Defence Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the Economic Policy Institute, the Institute for Regional and International Studies, the Institute for Security and International Studies, the NATO Defence College Alumni Association and the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies Alumni Association. Report presented to NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson during his visit to Sofia.

March

General Joseph Ralston, SACEUR, addresses The Atlantic Club in a lecture on NATO Enlargement and the Role of Bulgaria in Regional Stability, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel (attendance: 500-plus).
US Committee on NATO President Bruce P. Jackson addresses The Atlantic Club at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a round-table discussion on NATO, the United States and Bulgaria, with the special participation of the International Affairs Advisor to SACEUR Michael Durkee, at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
Dr. Glenda Rosenthal of Columbia University addresses The Atlantic Club in a lecture on European Security and Defence Policy – the US Perspective, in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov invites members of the newly established Presidential Council on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration to join the Club.

April

The Spanish Ambassador to the EU’s Special Mission on Enlargement Jorge Fuentes addresses The Atlantic Club in a lecture on Bulgaria – a Look from Brussels and Madrid, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel (attendance: 500-plus).
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a round-table discussion on The American Decisions before Prague 2002, with the special participation of Dr. John Hulsman, Research Fellow in European Affairs at the Heritage Foundation, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
NATO Day in Bourgas, organized by The Atlantic Club, with the participation of Turkey’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Haydar Berk and Bourgas’ Mayor Yoan Kostadinov. The Gallup International report on public attitudes toward defence reforms, commissioned by The Atlantic Club, is presented at a public meeting in Bourgas.
Seminar on the Implementation of European and Atlantic Security Standards and its Effect on Bulgarian Society, held in Bourgas.
On occasion of the 11th birthday of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the 53rd anniversary of the Washington Treaty, a concert is held at the Opera House in Bourgas and is attended by Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, Honorary President of The Atlantic Club.
A Club delegation, led by The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov attends the 12th International Antalya Conference on Security and Cooperation, held in Turkey, where a Joint Statement supporting the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to NATO is issued by the national Atlantic associations of Turkey, Greece, Romania and Bulgaria.
NATO Day in Blagoevgrad, organized by The Atlantic Club, with the participation of the Turkish Ambassador to Bulgaria Haydar Berk, at the American University in Bulgaria.
Seminar on the Implementation of European and Atlantic Security Standards and its Effect on Bulgarian Society, in Varna.
Conference on Citizens in Uniform – Protection of Their Social and Legal Rights, organized by the Manfred Woerner Foundation and the Rakovski Bulgarian Officers Legion Confederation, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club launches the Lobby for Bulgaria in NATO: Now! initiative, supported by Bulgaria’s President Georgi Parvanov and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Initiative encourages Bulgarian communities in all NATO Member States to lobby their respective parliaments and governments to support Bulgaria’s membership of the Alliance.
The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov participates as a key-note speaker in the NATO’s Enlargement Workshop in Prague, sponsored by the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

May

Former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev addresses The Atlantic Club at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel (attendance: 500-plus).
Council of Europe Secretary-General Walter Schwimmer addresses The Atlantic Club at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel (attendance: large).
A Club delegation participates in a Bulgarian Easter ceremony held at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture. At the meeting, Bulgarians living both in Bulgaria and abroad discuss together with Cabinet members the future of Bulgaria’s welfare, economic prosperity, as well as stability and security issues. Lobby for Bulgaria in NATO: Now! initiative presented at the meeting.
Seminar on the Implementation of European and Atlantic Security Standards and its Effect on Bulgarian Society held in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov participates in a Spring Meeting of the ATA Council in Brussels.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria initiates a National Committee for Welcoming His Holiness Pope John Paul II in Bulgaria during an official visit by His Holiness Pope John Paul II to Bulgaria. The Atlantic Club plays a significant role in the arrangement of two principal events in Sofia involving public appearances of His Holiness: a mass rally is held on Saint Alexander Nevsky Square, together with a concert marking the Day of Slav Literature and Bulgarian Culture, held at the National Palace of Culture.
The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov participates as key-note speaker at the International Conference on The Security Challenges in South East Europe, organized by The Atlantic Club of Yugoslavia in Belgrade.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the Lyudmila Zhivkova – Banner of Peace Foundation and the National Education Complex of Culture organize an inauguration ceremony of a Memorial Bell NATO in Service of Peace at The Bells Monument, Sofia, in presence of the Secretary General and delegates to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, held in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov participates as a key-note speaker in the US-Russian conference on The Euro-Atlantic Integration and Russia after September 11th, held in Moscow.
NGO Report No. 2 on The Readiness of Bulgaria to Join NATO, commissioned by the Bulgarian Parliament and prepared by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria jointly with the George C. Marshall Association, the Manfred Woerner Foundation, the Centre for National Security and Defence Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the Economic Policy Institute, the Institute for Regional and International Studies, the Institute for Security and International Studies, the NATO Defence College Alumni Association and the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies Alumni Association. Report circulated at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly held in Sofia.

June

The Atlantic Club organizes a public lecture by the US Permanent Representative to the UN, John Negroponte, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
UK Defence Secretary Geoffrey Hoon delivers a public lecture before a large audience at Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, at Sofia’s Kempinski Hotel Zografski (attendance: 500-plus).
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the International Aikido Association and the Bulgarian Aikido Foundation organize a demonstration of Aikido by Shihandai Andi Sato, at Sofia’s Bulgarian Army Theatre.
Official promotion of the film How Europe Entered Bulgaria, organized by The Atlantic Club, at the Concert Hall of Sofia’s Central Military Club.
The Manfred Woerner Foundation, The Atlantic Club and the Sofia Branch Office of UNHCR, in cooperation with the Agency for Refugees and under the auspices of Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha holds a round table on Refugees: A Positive Contribution to Development, at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture.
The Atlantic Club organizes an official promotion of the film From Assisi to Sofia: The Pope on Bulgarian Land during a visit by His Holiness John Paul II to Bulgaria at Sofia’s Central Military Club.

July

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture on Strategic Impacts and Consequences of World War Against Terrorism by Israel’s ex-Prime Minister Ehud Barak before a large audience, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by General Nikola Kolev, Chief of the General Staff of the Bulgarian Armed Forces, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov participates as an official invited guest at the inauguration of Albania’s newly elected President Alfred Moisiu, in Tirana.
NATO Day in Varna, organized by The Atlantic Club. A Square and a monument in the city centre are named “Atlantic Solidarity.”
The Atlantic Club organizes seminars on the Implementation of European and Atlantic Security Standards and its Effect on Bulgarian Society, in Varna and Bourgas.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a Round-Table Discussion on Bulgaria – Half a Year Non-Permanent Member of the UN Security Council, with the participation of ATA Chairman Alan Lee Williams, OBE, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the George C. Marshall Association, in cooperation with the Geneva Center for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces, organizes a workshop on The Reform of the Defence Industry, in Sofia.

August

NATO Day in Dospat, organized by The Atlantic Club, with the participation of Denmark’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Christian Faber-Rod. One of the town squares is named “NATO.” A Chapter of The Atlantic Club is founded in Dospat.

September

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by the US Ambassador to Bulgaria James W. Pardew at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
Round-table discussion on Bulgaria and NATO: 12 Years After and 12 Weeks Before, organized by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria in cooperation with the Open Society Foundation, with the participation of Bulgaria’s ex-President Zhelyu Zhelev, Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, Honorary President of The Atlantic Club, and Roderick Moore, US Deputy Chief of Mission in Sofia, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
Dr. Kemal Beyoghlow, Professor of International Relations and National Security at the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, delivers a public lecture on War Against Terrorism at the American Center in Sofia, organized by the Center and The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.
The Atlantic Club organizes a seminar on the Implementation of European and Atlantic Security Standards and its Effect on Bulgarian Society in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with Pazardjik Municipality, organizes the Movie Bridge NATO-Bulgaria Film Festival, under the auspices of US Ambassador to Bulgaria James W. Pardew, in Pazardjik.

October

A Club delegation, led by The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, participates in the 48th ATA General Assembly in Istanbul. Bulgarian Foreign Minister, Solomon Passy, Honorary President of The Atlantic Club, joins the delegation.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a Round-Table Discussion on NATO Enlargement and the Process of Adapting the Alliance to the New Security Challenges in Sofia. British Government Report Iraqi Mass Destruction Weapons is published in Bulgarian by the Club and presented at the event. A round-table discusses the prospects for Bulgarian participation in possible Allied actions against the present Iraqi regime.
The Atlantic Club organizes a farewell party in honour of Greece’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Michael Christides.
Official launch of the Academic Refugee Studies Programme Initiative in Bulgaria, organized jointly by the Sofia Branch Office of the UNHCR and The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria on United Nations Day.
NGO Report No. 3 on The Readiness of Bulgaria to Join NATO, commissioned by the Bulgarian Parliament and prepared by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria jointly with the George C. Marshall Association, the Manfred Woerner Foundation, the Centre for National Security and Defence Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the Economic Policy Institute, the Institute for Regional and International Studies, the Institute for Security and International Studies, the NATO Defence College Alumni Association and the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies Alumni Association.
Round-Table Discussion on Terrorism Without Boundaries: Moscow Between New York and Prague, organized by The Atlantic Club, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by Romania’s Prime Minister Adrian Nastase, at Sofia’s Kempinski Hotel Zografski.
The Atlantic Club organizes a farewell party in honour of Israel’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Emanuel Zisman.
Public lecture by Polish Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, organized by The Atlantic Club, at Sofia’s National Archaeological Museum.

November

Round-table discussion and presentation of NGO Report No. 3 on The Readiness of Bulgaria to Join NATO, commissioned by the Bulgarian Parliament and prepared by the NGO coalition led by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria. The presentation is held in the National Assembly, co-organized by The Atlantic Club and the Parliamentary Foreign Policy, Defence and Security Committee.
NATO Day in Panagyurishte, organized by The Atlantic Club, with the participation of Poland’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Jaroslaw Lindenberg. Optics Plant in Panagyurishte named “Atlantic.”
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a round-table discussion on The UN Security Council and Iraq: The Chance for Peace, with the participation of Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, Honorary President of The Atlantic Club, and ambassadors from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture.
The Atlantic Club organizes a public lecture by Romanian Defence Minister Ioan Mircea Pascu, at Sofia’s Kempinski Hotel Zografski.
A Club delegation, led by The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov attends the NATO Summit in Prague.
On occasion of a NATO Summit in Prague, The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, jointly with the Manfred Woerner Foundation, the NATO Information Centre and the Euro-Atlantic Youth Club, organizes the festive Atlantic Idea Celebration in Sofia, where an Atlantic Club Golden Award is presented to 12 persons for their outstanding contribution to the advancement of the Atlantic idea in Bulgaria.
The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov is invited as a key-note speaker to the 12th Zappeion International Symposium, organized by the GAAEC in Athens.

December

The Atlantic Club organizes a public lecture by Boris Y. Nemtsov, Floor Leader of the Union of Rightist Forces Group in the Russian State Duma, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
Round-table discussion on The Future of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Bulgarian Chairmanship-in-Office, organized by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Open Society Foundation, organizes the round-table discussion on Bulgaria at the Security Council: the First Year Summed Up, attended by Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, Honorary President of The Atlantic Club. US Representative for Special Policy Questions at the UN Richard Williamson is a guest speaker at the event.

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, jointly with the Manfred Woerner Foundation, the NATO Information Centre and the Euro-Atlantic Youth Club, organizes a traditional Christmas Party at Sofia’s Kempisnki Hotel Zografski

2001

January

The Atlantic Club organizes the National Committee on the Organization of Visit to Bulgaria by Pope John Paul II.
The Sandanski Municipal Council accepts the proposal of The Atlantic Club to name the town’s central square “Atlantic Alliance Plaza”.
NATO Day in Sandanski. Organized by The Atlantic Club, with the support of the UK, Greek, Portuguese and Polish Embassies in Sofia. Atlantic Alliance Plaza naming ceremony in downtown Sandanski.

February

UK Minister of State for Armed Forces John Spellar addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
The 165th anniversary of a Church in Chirpan is co-sponsored by The Atlantic Club.

March

The Atlantic Club hosts the Annual Atlantic Lunch for Bulgaria’s Vice President Todor Kavaldjiev, Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofiyanski and Ambassadors of NATO Member States.
The Stone Group, Inc., President Ann Stone addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
General Joseph Baril, Chief of the Canadian Defence Staff, addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club organizes a farewell party in honour of Spain’s Ambassador to Bulgaria, Jose Coderch Planas, NATO Point of Contact.

April

Bulgarian Posts issue a commemorative postage stamp to mark the 10th birthday of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the 10th anniversary of the Atlantic movement in Central and Eastern Europe. Formal introduction ceremony for the postal issue attended by Bulgarian Transport and Communications Minister Antoni Slavinski. Stamp designed by Prof. Todor Vardjiev, produced in quantity of 30,000 stamps and face value of BGN 0.65.
Gala concert held at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture to mark the 52nd anniversary of NATO and 10th birthday of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, attended by Bulgaria’s President Peter Stoyanov, Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofiyanski and 4,000 Club members and friends. Pope John Paul II, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Ivan Kostov, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, NATO Secretary Lord George Robertson, Croatia’s President Stipe Mesic, US Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, Bulgarian Defence Minister Boyko Noev, General Miho Mihov, Chief of Staff of the Bulgarian Army, and former UK Defence Secretary Michael Portillo cabled greetings.
Concert followed by a reception at Sofia’s Central Military Club, hosted by The Atlantic Club President Dr. Solomon Passy.
Norwegian Defence Minister, Bjorn Tore Godal, delivers a lecture to The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes two international conferences: Globalization and NATO in the 21st Century and Youth for United Europe and NATO, to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of NATO and the 10th birthday of The Atlantic Club in Bulgaria. Conferences co-sponsored by NATO, the German Marshall Fund of the United States and the Atlantic Treaty Association.
NATO Day in Pazardjik, organized by The Atlantic Club, with the support of the Danish and US Embassies in Sofia. A new bridge in the city is ceremoniously named Atlantic.

June

AJC Director of International Jewish Affairs Rabbi Andrew Baker addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
NATO Day in Rousse. Organized by The Atlantic Club, with the support of the Hungarian, US and Romanian Embassies in Sofia.
US Media Consultant Thomas Oppel addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.

July

General Rolando Mosca Moschini, Italian Chief of Defence Staff, addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.

August

Ian Brzezinski, Senior Professional Staff Member, US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
Former UN Secretary General and incumbent Secretary General of the International Organization of the Francophonie Boutros Boutros-Ghali addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.

September

Senator Richard G. Lugar (Rep-Ind.) addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia for a second time, after being the Club’s guest of honour in 1999. In the evening, the Senator delivers the dinner speech in presence of Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, before an audience made up by The Atlantic Club Council members, Government officials, MPs, editors-in-chief of Bulgaria’s principal newspapers, business persons and Atlantic Club friends.
The Atlantic Club organizes a farewell party in honour of the Netherlands Ambassador to Bulgaria W. Theo Six.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Anatoly Zlenko addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
Canadian National Defence Minister Arthur Eggleton addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.

October

Palestinian Authority Planning and International Cooperation Minister Nabil Shaath addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club organizes a farewell party in honour of UK Ambassador to Bulgaria Richard Stagg.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a round-table discussion on NATO vs. Global Terrorism.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes the International Conference on NATO’s New Agenda: One Year before the Summit.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a round-table discussion on Bulgaria after October 4th. Address by Bulgaria’s President Peter Stoyanov, delivered to participants in the discussion. The Foreign Minister Solomon Passy attends the round-table discussion.

November

The Atlantic Club organizes a round-table discussion on Terrorism, Cultures and Religions in collaboration with the Bulgarian Centre for Middle East Studies.
A Club delegation visits Belgrade, attends the inauguration of The Atlantic Club of Yugoslavia and a lecture delivered by the Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy.
French Defence Minister Alain Richard addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
Club representatives attend the GAAEC Conference in Athens. Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy is a guest of honour.

December

NATO Day in Shoumen. Organized by The Atlantic Club, with the support of the Shoumen Regional Governor and the Spanish, US and UK Embassies in Sofia.
Bulgarian-Ukrainian conference on The South and Eastern European Countries’ Route to European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, organized by The Atlantic Club with the support of the Ukrainian Embassy in Sofia and Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
First meeting on the Phare ACCESS Programme, organized by The Atlantic Club.

Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Alvaro Gil-Robles addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.

2000

January

Ambassador Richard Schifter, Special Adviser to US President Clinton and to the US Secretary of State, addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club’s Bourgas Chapter participates in seminars organized by the Bourgas Municipality and the NATO Institute.

February

NATO Secretary General, Lord George Robertson addresses The Atlantic Club Board and Staff members at a breakfast meeting in Sofia.
The Manfred Woerner Foundation and Zoroastar-Bulgaria Foundation organize an academic conference on Future of Iraqi Kurdistan.
Mohawk Council of Kahnawake Chief Joseph Tokwiro Norton addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club’s Bourgas Chapter hosts the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake Chief, Joseph Tokwiro Norton, in Bourgas.
The Atlantic Club’s Bourgas Chapter organizes a commemoration for the anniversary of the 1913 Battle of Adrianople, in cooperation with the Bulgarian Army Foundation.

March

General Wesley K. Clark, SACEUR, addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
The UK Permanent Representative to NATO Sir John Goulden addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club hosts the Annual Atlantic Lunch for Bulgaria’s Vice President Todor Kavaldjiev, Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofiyanski and Ambassadors of NATO Member States.
ACYPL delegation visits Bulgaria, hosted by the Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Youth Club. Guests meet Bulgaria’s President Peter Stoyanov and Foreign Minister Nadezhda Mihailova and visit Varna and Plovdiv.
The Atlantic Club, the Centre for Liberal Strategies, the RAND Corporation, the International Centre for Policy Studies (Ukraine) and the Europe XXI Foundation (Ukraine) organize an Ukrainian-Bulgarian-American Conference on Ukraine, Bulgaria and the Integration Process in Countries of Southern and Eastern Europe.
NATO Day in Radnevo. Organized by The Atlantic Club and the Spanish Embassy in Sofia.
Joost Lagendijk MEP, Special Rapporteur on the Stability Pact at the European Parliament, meets The Atlantic Club Board and Staff members at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club Bourgas Chapter inaugurates the EU Information Centre in Bourgas.

April

Annual Atlantic Reception on occasion of the 9th birthday of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the 51st anniversary of NATO, attended by Bulgaria’s President Peter Stoyanov.
Farewell party for Chris Dell, US Deputy Chief of Mission in Sofia and Club Honorary Director, is organized by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.
The Atlantic Club Rousse Chapter holds a NATO Day in Rousse, with support from the Canadian Embassy.

May

The Atlantic Education Committee Spring Seminar is held in Sofia. The seminar is organized by The Atlantic Club, with the support of the NATO HQ. The NATO Information Centre Director Ivan Sotirov is elected Vice-President of AEC.
Participation in the 94th Annual Meeting of the American Jewish Committee in Washington, D.C.
World Aikido Association President Shihan Fumio Toyoda addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
NATO Day in Veliko Turnovo. Organized by The Atlantic Club, with the support of the UK Embassy in Sofia.

June

Slovakia’s Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
A Round-Table Discussion on Bulgarian Consensus on NATO, organized by The Atlantic Club. All Floor Leaders of parliamentary parties take part in discussions: Ekaterina Mihaylova of the UDF, Georgi Parvanov of the BSP, Ahmed Dogan of the DPS, Alexander Tomov of the Euro-Left, Anastasia Moser of the Bulgarian Agrarian Popular Union, and Vladimir Djaferov of the Democratic Party.

July

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Ivan Kostov addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
Bulgarian Deputy Defence Minister Velizar Shalamanov, Interior Ministry Chief Secretary Bozhidar Popov, Parliamentary Integration and Foreign Policy Committee Chairman Asen Agov, Elena Poptodorova of Euro-Left and representatives from a wide range of NGOs take part in a round-table discussion on the Government’s 1999 Annual National Security Report.
The Atlantic Club’s Bourgas Chapter participates in a round-table discussion on The Optimal Strategy of Partnership between Citizens and Local Authorities in Bulgaria under the Partners for Local Development Programme.

August

The Atlantic Club’s Bourgas Chapter participates in a public ecological campaign for the protection of Vormos Bay.

September

Carla Del Ponte, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.

October

NATO Secretary General Lord George Robertson addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
Croatia’s President Stipe Mesic addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
A Club delegation participates in the 46th ATA General Assembly in Budapest.
The Atlantic Club organizes a lecture by the NATO Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs, Ambassador Klaus-Peter Klaiber.
General Henry H. Shelton, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
Danish Foreign Minister Niels Helveg Petersen addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.

November

NATO Military Committee Chairman Admiral Guido Venturoni addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
Hungary’s Permanent Representative to NATO Ambassador Andras Simonyi addresses The Atlantic Club Board and Staff members in Sofia.
Selection of 2001 Bulgarian Marshall fellows – a programme of the German Marshall Fund of the United States coordinated by the Manfred Woerner Foundation.
Meeting between The Atlantic Club and the US Embassy in Bulgaria, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of a fine relationship between the two institutions.
On occasion of the 6th anniversary of the audience of The Atlantic Club with Pope John Paul II and the 119th birth anniversary of Pope John XXIII (Angelo Roncalli), The Atlantic Club organizes the presentation of Benediction, a documentary by the Bulgarian film director Lyubomir Halachev. The film tells about the life and works of Pope John XXIII (Monsignor Angelo Roncalli) and especially about his mission as Apostolic Delegate to Bulgaria (1925-1934).
The Atlantic Club and Radio Deutsche Welle organize a round-table discussion on Bulgaria, the Balkans and Germany at the Beginning of the 21st Century.
Multi-ethnic jazz concert of the Balkan Horses Bands, co-sponsored by The Atlantic Club.

December

US Committee on NATO President Bruce P. Jackson addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia in the third of a series of speeches.
Israel’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Emanuel Zisman addresses the Manfred Woerner Foundation and The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
The Haskovo Municipal Council accepts the proposal of The Atlantic Club’s Haskovo Chapter to name the city’s central square “Atlantic Plaza”.
NATO Day in Haskovo, organized by The Atlantic Club, with the support of the Greek, Polish, Hungarian and US Embassies in Sofia. Atlantic Plaza naming ceremony in downtown Haskovo.
The Polish Embassy in Sofia and The Atlantic Club organize a public lecture by Poland’s Centre for Eastern Studies Director Professor Marek Karp.
Annual meeting of The Atlantic Club General Assembly and Annual Christmas Reception.
Release of a new album of the Bulgarian vocal trio Antibiotica, organized by The Atlantic Club.

1999

January

The Club participates in an ATA Bureau meeting in Brussels.
A photo exhibition on Hungary on the Way to NATO is held with the co-sponsorship of the Hungarian Embassy in Sofia.
A photo exhibition dedicated to the 50th anniversary of NATO, co-sponsored by Netherlands Embassy in Sofia (NATO Contact Point), is held.
Lieutenant General Jiri Sedivy, Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic, addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
Board Members meet Denmark’s Social Democratic Party International Secretary, Eric Boel, at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
The press launch of The Polish Political Scene, a book published on occasion of Poland’s accession to NATO, is held with the co-sponsorship of the Polish Embassy in Sofia.
An inter-institutional seminar, initiating the project Information Strategy for Bulgaria’s Euro-Atlantic Integration: the Role of Non-governmental Organizations, is held with the co-sponsorship of the Phare Democracy Programme.

February

Macedonia’s Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski delivers a public lecture before The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria (attendance: 2,000-plus).
The Atlantic Club hosts the Annual Atlantic Lunch for Bulgaria’s Vice President, Todor Kavaldjiev, Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofiyanski and Ambassadors of NATO Member States.
NATO Day in Bourgas. An international seminar on Society and Armed Forces: Interrelations, Control and Transparency is held as part of the project Democratic Control of the Armed Forces, sponsored by the Phare Democracy Programme.
NATO Day in Plovdiv. A number of events (seminars, press conferences and a photo exhibition) are organized to mark the 50th anniversary of NATO, co-sponsored by the Mayor of Plovdiv and by the Plovdiv Regional Governor.
Atlantic Council of USA Counselor Elizabeth Pond, journalist of the Christian Science Monitor, addresses The Atlantic Club members and guests in presence of the US Ambassador to Bulgaria Avis T. Bohlen at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria gives a reception on occasion of the NATO seminar on NATO Security Investment Program.
A press launch of New Dimensions of Freedom, a book by the popular Bulgarian author and journalist Alexander Andreev is held and followed by a concert of the world-famous orchestra of composer Goran Bregovic.
A group of servicemen trainees from the Centre for Strategic Studies and Foreign Language Instruction visit the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
Participation in the 999 Stoke Rochford Conference in Grantham, UK.

March

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria co-organizes a Junior World Championship & World Cup Finals in Ski Orientieering in Yundola (between Mt Rila and the Rhodopi Mountains).
The Atlantic Club co-sponsors an exhibition of oil paintings by Kiril Bozhilov.
World Aikido Association President Shihan Fumio Toioda delivers a lecture before The Atlantic Club.
The Atlantic Club presents a newsletter issued by the NATO Information Centre in Sofia on occasion of Poland’s accession to NATO. The newsletter is published under the project Information Strategy for Bulgaria’s Euro-Atlantic Integration: the Role of Non-governmental Organizations, co-sponsored by Phare Democracy Programme through the Civil Society Development Foundation.
Release of commemorative postage stamp dedicated to the 50th anniversary of NATO.
Exhibition of postal, philatelic and numismatic items dedicated to NATO, at the Grand Hall of the General Post Office in Sofia.
The NATO Information Centre in Sofia organizes an essay contest for university students on NATO and the World in the 21st Century.
Presidential Rose Roth Seminar on Regional Security Cooperation in Southeast Europe takes place in Borovets. The seminar is organized by the Bulgarian Parliament and co-sponsored by NATO and NATO Parliamentary Assembly. The Atlantic Club and the NATO Information Centre co-sponsor the photo exhibition Bulgaria on the Way to NATO.
The Atlantic Club co-organizes a series of seminars sponsored by the EU Phare Democracy Programme on the project Civilian Control of the Armed Forces for Protection of the Young People on Military Service. The first seminar takes place in Kazanluk.
French students visit the NATO Information Centre in Sofia as part of the project on the 50th anniversary of NATO.
Participation in the Athens International Conference NATO’s Second Half Century in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of NATO.

April

NATO Day in Sofia. Commemorative Gala Concert of Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra dedicated to the 50th anniversary of NATO and the 8th birthday of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, organized by The Atlantic Club and the Mayor of Sofia. Gala Concert attended by Bulgaria’s President Peter Stoyanov and NATO Deputy Secretary General Sergio Balanzino. The Atlantic Club President Dr. Solomon Passy hosts a reception on occasion of the 8th birthday of the Club.
NATO Day in Smolyan. Third seminar on Society and Armed Forces: Interrelations, Control and Transparency. The Seminar is part of a project Democratic Control of the Armed Forces, sponsored by the Phare Democracy Programme.
UK House of Lords Member Lord Geoffrey Howe of Aberavon delivers a public lecture before The Atlantic Club.
Hewlett-Packard Vice President and General Executive Director for South-Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa Franz Nawratil delivers a lecture before The Atlantic Club.

May

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair delivers a lecture before The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.
Participation in the 93rd Annual Meeting of the American Jewish Committee in Washington, D.C.
Major General Henry Albert Kievenaar, Jr. visits the NATO Information Centre in Sofia and addresses The Atlantic Club Board of Directors members and guests.
Bulgarian-US Conference dedicated to the 50th anniversary of NATO: NATO in its Mid-Centenary: The Global Mission of the Alliance in the 21st Century. The Conference is organized by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the American Center in Sofia and co-sponsored by the NATO Headquarters.
NATO Day in Karlovo. Organized by The Atlantic Club, with the support of NATIP, the Belgian Embassy, the US Embassy and the Netherlands Embassy in Sofia. Opening of the photo exhibition NATO at 50. Free discussion on NATO’s New Mission and Security in South-Eastern Europe.
NATO Day in Varna. Organized by The Atlantic Club, with the support of NATIP, the Danish Embassy, the US Embassy and the Netherlands Embassy in Sofia. Opening of the photo exhibition NATO at 50. Free discussion on NATO’s New Mission and Security in South-Eastern Europe.

June

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and Harris-Bulgaria organize a Farewell Garden Party in honour of the US Ambassador to Bulgaria Avis T. Bohlen.
The Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Youth Club (BEAYC) and The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organize the AAYPL General Assembly in Sofia and Varna under the honorary patronage of the Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nadezhda Mihaylova. The Forum commemorates the 50th anniversary of NATO and is held for the first time in a non-NATO member country.
Senator Richard G. Lugar (Rep-Ind.) delivers a speech before The Atlantic Club.
NATO Day in Shoumen. Organized by The Atlantic Club with the support of NATIP, the UK Embassy, the US Embassy and the Netherlands Embassy in Sofia. Opening of the photo exhibition NATO at 50. Free discussion on NATO’s New Mission and Security in South-Eastern Europe.
Press launch of This is Alaska, a book by Angel Kolev, a journalist of Bulgarska Armiya daily.
Prof. James Franklin Brown, former Deputy Director of Radio Free Europe in Munich, delivers a lecture before The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.
The Atlantic Club Bourgas Chapter organizes a press conference on occasion of the opening of a photo exhibition dedicated to the Bulgarian Armed Forces.

July

The Atlantic Club’s Bourgas Chapter organizes a lecture on NATO, US and Kosovo by Prof. Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, the Manfred Woerner Foundation President and The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria Vice President, in Bourgas.
Italy’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Alessandro Grafini visits the NATO Information Center in Bourgas.

August

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a concert of world famous jazz musician Milcho Leviev at the closing ceremony of the European Cultural Month – Plovdiv ’99.

September

Bulgarian Deputy Defence Minister Velizar Shalamanov delivers a lecture before The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.

October

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes the presentation of The Saved, a documentary by the noted Bulgarian TV journalist Milena Milotinova, telling about the rescue of Bulgarian Jews from the Holocaust.

November

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria is among the main co-hosts of a mass rally during the visit of US President Bill Clinton to Sofia.
France’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Dominique Chassard delivers a lecture before The Atlantic Club.
The Atlantic Club presents the documentary Utopia and the exhibition of Bulgarian photographer Zafer Galibov.
NATO Day in Vidin is organized by The Atlantic Club with the support of the UK Embassy in Sofia. Free discussion on Values of the Transatlantic Community and Security in South-Eastern Europe.
The Atlantic Club Bourgas Chapter delivers materials for NATO Information Centre in Sofia and NATO to Bourgas garrison divisions.

December

US Committee on NATO President Bruce P. Jackson delivers a lecture before The Atlantic Club.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria accomplishes the 1998 Manfred Woerner Institutional Fellowship offered by the NATO HQ.
NATO Day in Stara Zagora, organized by The Atlantic Club with the support of the US and British Embassies in Sofia. Question and answer session on the Values of the Transatlantic Community and Security in South-Eastern Europe.
The Atlantic Club presents Craving for New Things, a documentary by the Bulgarian director and producer Lyubomir Halachev.
The Atlantic Club General Assembly and Annual Christmas Reception.
The Atlantic Club’s Bourgas Chapter organizes a charity Christmas concert at Sts Cyril and Methodius Church in Bourgas. Funds are raised to be spent on the restoration of a Church.

1998

January

Joris Voorhoeve, Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, lectures at the Atlantic Club.
Meeting of the ATA Bureau in Brussels.
Conference on the Need for a National Doctrine of Observation and Aspects of Euro-Atlantic Integration, organized by the Euro-Atlantic Youth Club and the Youth Organization of the V
American Center in Sofia. Premiere of Prof. Mincho Draganov’s book “The North Atlantic Express. American industry. “
Solomon Passy and Maxim Minchev visit the Second Army Corps. Meeting with Major General Stefan Nikolov and the officers from the headquarters. Discussion on Bulgaria’s integration into NATO.

February

The Atlantic Club organizes the Second Annual Atlantic Luncheon in the presence of the Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria Todor Kavaldzhiev, the Mayor of the capital Stefan Sofianski and the Ambassadors of NATO member states.
Solomon Passy’s participation in an international meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Jewish Committee.
The Atlantic Club welcomes a delegation from the American Jewish Committee led by the organization’s Executive Director David Harris. The delegation is received by President Petar Stoyanov, Prime Minister Ivan Kostov, Parliament Speaker Yordan Sokolov and Foreign Minister Nadezhda Mihaylova.
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi delivers a lecture to the Atlantic Club.

March

Admiral T. Joseph Lopez, Commander-in-Chief of the US Navy in Europe and Commander of the NATO Joint Force for Southeastern Europe, lectures at the Club.
Meeting of the Club management with Luis Maria de Puig of the Western European Union.
The Atlantic Club organizes the opening of an art exhibition by the artist Kiril Bozhkilov from Sandanski.
Strobe Talbot, US Deputy Secretary of State, meets with the Board of Directors of The Atlantic Club.
Lecture by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Bozhkov in front of the Club.
Meeting with Bulgarian and Romanian scholars of the German Marshall Fund.

April

Opening of the NATO Information Center in Sofia. Foreign Minister Nadezhda Mihaylova, Minister of Defense Georgi Ananev, Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofianski and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Integration Policy Assen Agov are in attendance.
NATO Secretary General Dr. Javier Solana meets with the Club’s leadership at the NATO Information Center.
Reception on the occasion of the 7th anniversary of The Atlantic Club with the presence of President Petar Stoyanov.
Conference on NATO Problems in the Eve of the New Century, organized by the Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Youth Club and the UDF Youth Clubs.
Paskal Milo, Albania’s foreign minister, lectures at The Atlantic Club.
Opening of The Atlantic Club NATO Information Center.
Ronald Linden, Director of the Center for Russian and Eastern European Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, lectures at the NATO Information Center.
General George Joulwan, former Commander of the NATO Air Force in Europe, gives a lecture at the NATO Information Center in Sofia.
Conference on European Security and NATO Enlargement, organized by the American Center, the Center for Liberal Strategies and The Atlantic Club, with the participation of General Joulw
A military delegation from the Kingdom of the Netherlands visits the NATO Information Center.
General George Jumper, Commander of the United States Air Force in Europe, visits the NATO Information Center.
Östen Sjöstrand, Chairman of the Nobel Committee of the Swedish Academy of Sciences, gives a lecture to members and guests of the Club.
A group of Portuguese journalist visits the NATO Information Center in Sofia.

May

General Klaus Naumann, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, lectures at The Atlantic Club.
Solomon Passy’s participation in the 92nd annual meeting of the American Jewish Committee.
A delegation of The Atlantic Club (Solomon Passy, Lubomir Ivanov, Binka Peeva, Augustina Tsvetkova, Ivanka Petkova, Ivan Sotirov, Maya Kostova, Iliya Plachkov and Maxim Minchev) participate in the Congress of the New Atlantic Initiative.
A delegation of The Atlantic Club (Solomon Passy, Binka Peeva and Maxim Minchev) pay a visit to the public of the town of Peshtera on the occasion of the city holiday and the Day of the Bulgarian Army.
Colonel Ivan Sotirov, Director of the NATO Information Center, works at the ATA Spring Seminar, verified in the UK.
AAMPL Vice President Augustine Tsvetkova takes part in a conference on Competition in the Sphere of High Technologies Between Europe, the USA and Germany as a Link Between New and Old Members of NATO.

June

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria is honored with the most authoritative unique scholarship in the name of Manfred Woerner. The scholarship is won by a project titled The NATO Expansion Mission and the First Decades of the 21st Century and is a recognition of The Atlantic Club’s overall work. The scholarship is awarded only once a year to a person or institution with particular merit to the Atlantic idea. Since the scholarship’s founding in 1995, The Atlantic Club is its third laureate.
The President of the Club attends the annual meeting of the ATA Bureau.
Ambassador Ralph Earle II, Deputy Director of the US Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, lectures at The Atlantic Club.
Charles Meyer, senior adviser on President Clinton’s military affairs, visits the NATO Information Center.
AAMPL Vice President Augustine Tsvetkova participates in the AAMPL Annual Meeting and the conference on Regional Cooperation and Security and Strategic Energy Applications. Sofia receives the host of the anniversary meeting of AAMPL.
The Atlantic Club sponsors a regional public forum “The Future of Nature Depends on Your Decisions,” organized by the Bulgarian Bird Protection Association.
Agreement between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense and The Atlantic Club for information cooperation.

July

José María Asnar, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Spain, lectures at The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.
Shula Bahat, Executive Director of the American Jewish Committee, visits Bulgaria as a guest speaker at the Club and the WFD.
The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Jonkeer Theo Six, visits the NATO Information Center and donates videos, books and magazines to the Dutch Army.
Professor Charles Kupchan of Georgetown University in the US and former Bill Clinton advisor on European Affairs visits The Atlantic Club.

August

Vice Admiral Daniel Murphy Jr., Commander of the 6th US Navy, lectures at The Atlantic Club.

September

Julie Findy, founder and board member of the American Committee on NATO Enlargement, visits the NATO Information Center.
Professor F. Goyembski of the University of Warsaw and Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland visits the NATO Information Center.
A Dutch delegation headed by Chris Sanders, Head of the Defense Policy Department at the Hague Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visits the NATO Information Center.
A group of leading media journalists in Germany visits the NATO Information Center.
Stage 5 of Vladimir Sorokin’s Bicycle Tours – Borders of Bulgaria (Sofia – Vidin – Sililstra – Malko Turnovo – Petrich – Sofia) under the auspices of The Atlantic Club, BRC and the Ministry of the Environment, dedicated to the 50th anniversary of NATO.
Opening of a photo exhibition “Captivating Thailand” by Atlantic Club President Maxim Minchev and journalist from Radio Free Europe, together with the premiere of his poetry book by his radio colleague Emilia Antova, “Drunken Thoughts of a Princess”.

October

Daniel George, Director of the Division for Economic and Political Affairs at NATO Headquarters, visits the NATO Information Center.
Participation of а Club delegation in the International Conference on Security and Cooperation, organized by the Turkish Atlantic Association.
Major General Orhan Yunay of the Turkish National Security College speaks at the NATO Information Center in Sofia.
Aviation Vice-Admiral Keith Philby of the Royal College of Defense (UK) visits the NATO Information Center, along with officers and college members from the US, UK, Australia, Bruneh, Oman and Indonesia.
Dr. Tamas Tikk, Ambassador of Hungary to Bulgaria, visits the NATO Information Center.
Premiere of the movie Black Sea (directed by Lyubomir Halachev), organized by The Atlantic Club.
Tsalapitsa village, Plovdiv. Dutch Ambassador Jonkheer Theo Six and the President of the Club participate in a national bird protection campaign organized by the Dutch company Milleukontakt OOST-Europa, the Club, the Municipality of Rhodope and the Society for the Protection of Birds.
Conference “IMRO and the Contemporary Aspects of the Bulgarian National Idea”, organized by The Atlantic Club and IMRO.
The Atlantic Club sponsors the Mountain Travel Film Festival.

November

An Atlantic Club Delegation participates in the 44th General Assembly of the Atlantic Treaty Association.
Atlantic Club Delegation’s Official Dinner with H. E. Simeon II.
Christopher Donnelly, Special Advisor to the Secretary General of NATO for Central and Eastern Europe, lectures at The Atlantic Club.
Ribaritsa village, Loveshko. Workshop on Democratic Control of the Armed Forces, organized by The Atlantic Club and facilitated by the PHARE Program.
A delegation of the Security Committee to the House of Representatives of the British Parliament visits the NATO Information Center.
Bulgarian participation in an international delegation of ATA (Prof. Lubomir Ivanov, Vice-President of the Club), who visits Bosnia and Herzegovina. The delegation, headed by Theodosius Georgiou, meets with Bosnian Heads of State, the United Nations Office and SFOR.
Conference “The European Dimensions of the Global Financial Crisis and its Impact on Bulgaria’s EU Integration Program”, organized by the Foundation “St. St. Cyril and Methodius“, Ilko Eskenazi Foundation and The Atlantic Club.

December

Professor Francesco Palmieri, Director of Civilian Disaster Planning at NATO Headquarters, spoke before the Club.
Bob Clough, Microsoft Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe, gives a lecture at the Club on the topic of Bulgaria on the Road to the Digital Age.
The NATO Information Center publishes its first NATO Enlargement newsletter dedicated to Hungary.
Visit of a group of Bulgarian journalists, organized by the Club, in Brussels, Mons and The Hague. Radinella Buserska, Sevda Shishmanova and Vladislav Prelezov (BNT), Evelina Andreeva (BTA), Tanya Velichkova (BNR), Victoria Behar (Nova TV), Svetoslav Petrov (Radio “Free Europe”), Ivan Sotirov and Maxim Minchev visit NATO HQ in Brussels, SACEUR in Mons and the Netherlands with the assistance of the Bulgarian Ambassador to The Hague, Kamen Velichkov. In the Netherlands, they are guests of the Dutch Atlantic Committee and have meetings in the Parliament, the War Department and the International Court of Justice.
Danny Davis, a member of the US Congress (from the Democratic Party), visits The Atlantic Club. Meetings with President Stoyanov and the Speaker of the National Assembly Mr Dr. Davis speaks in front of the Club.
Bruce Jackson, president of the American Committee on NATO Enlargement, gives a lecture to the Club.
Participation in the International Conference on the Status and Perspectives of Stability in the Balkans, organized by the Albanian Atlantic Association.
Atlantic Club General Assembly and traditional Christmas Atlantic Reception.
Traditional New Year’s Eve Mass Celebration in the Mineral Baths Municipality (Haskovo County).

1997

January

The Netherlands’ Defence Minister Joris J.C. Voorhoeve addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
An ATA Bureau Meeting is held in Brussels.
A Conference on The Need for a National Security Doctrine. Aspects of Euro-Atlantic Integration is organized by the Euro-Atlantic Youth Club.
The Club participates in the Annual Conference of the Atlantic Council of the United Kingdom, in England.
The Atlantic Club press-launches The North Atlantic Exclusiveness – a book by Prof. Mincho Draganov.

February

The Atlantic Club hosts an Annual Atlantic Lunch for Bulgaria’s Vice President, Todor Kavaldjiev, Sofia Mayor, Stefan Sofiyanski, and the Ambassadors of NATO Member States.
The Club participates in the Board of Governors Institute of American Jewish Committee in Berlin.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria hosts an American Jewish Committee delegation, led by AJC Executive Director David A. Harris. The Delegation meets Bulgaria’s President Peter Stoyanov, Prime Minister Ivan Kostov, National Assembly Chairman Yordan Sokolov and Foreign Minister Nadezhda Mihaylova.
Italy’s Prime Minister Romano Prodi addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.

March

Admiral T. Joseph Lopez, Supreme Commander, US Naval Forces in Europe, and Commander-in-Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe, addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
Meeting with WEU Assembly President Luis Maria de Puige.
US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott meets The Atlantic Club Board.
Bulgaria’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Bozhkov addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
Bulgarian and Romanian Fellows of the 98′ GMF Fellowship Program (May 2 – June 30, 1998, USA) meet in Sofia.

April

Formal Inauguration of the NATO Information Centre in Sofia, attended by Foreign Minister Nadezhda Mihaylova, Parliamentary Foreign and Integration Policy Committee Chairman Asen Agov, Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofiyanski and Ambassadors of NATO Member States.
NATO Secretary General Javier Solana meets The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria Board of Directors at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
A reception is hosted by The Atlantic Club President Dr. Solomon Passy, on occasion of the 7th birthday of the Club, attended by Bulgaria’s President Peter Stoyanov.
A Youth Conference on NATO on the Brink of the New Millennium. New Mission, New Strategy was co-organized by the Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Youth Club and the UDF Youth Clubs.
Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal Milo addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
An inauguration of The Atlantic Club NATO Information Centre is held in Varna.
Ronald H. Linden, Director of the Center for Russian and East European Studies, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, delivers a lecture at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
A conference is organized by the Centre for Liberal Strategies, with the support of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, and is attended by General George A. Joulwan, former SACEUR, in Sofia.
General Joulwan addresses The Atlantic Club at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
A military delegation from the Institute of Leadership, Media and Training, Royal Netherlands Army, visits the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
A group of Portuguese journalists visits the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
General John Jumper, USAF, Commander USAFE and Commander AIRCENT, addresses the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
The Swedish Academy Nobel Committee Chairman Osten Sjostrand addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.

May

NATO Military Committee Chairman General Klaus Naumann addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
The Club’s delegation takes part in a Conference of New Atlantic Initiative in Istanbul.
Participation in the 92nd Annual Meeting of American Jewish Committee in Washington, D.C.
The Atlantic Club President Dr. Solomon Passy is an official guest in Peshtera on occasion of the Bulgarian Armed Forces Day.
Sofia’s NATO Information Centre Director, Colonel Ivan Sotirov, participates in the UK Spring Seminar of ATA Atlantic Education Committee.
AAYPL Vice President and Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Youth Club Secretary General, Avgustina Tzvetkova, visits Bonn to participate in the AAYPL German Conference on Competition and Cooperation in the Field of High Technologies between Europe and USA and Germany as a Link between Old and New NATO Members.
George C. Marshall, European Center for Security Studies Deputy Director, John P. Otjen, visits the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
The 1998 Manfred Woerner Institutional Fellowship is offered by the NATO HQ to The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.

June

The Atlantic Club President Dr. Solomon Passy participates in the Annual ATA Bureau Meeting in Brussels.
US Arms Control and Disarmament Agency Deputy Director Ambassador Ralph Earl II delivers a lecture before The Atlantic Club.
A delegation of the US Joint Contact Team in Sofia, headed by US Chief of Team Colonel Joseph B. Corcoran Jr., USAF, visits the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
Lieutenant General Charles R. Mayer (Ret.), US Signal Corps, Senior Military Advisor to President, Federal Systems Division, delivers a lecture before the NATO Information Centre in Sofia. The event launches a cycle of lectures dedicated to NATO Enlargement and New Advanced Technologies.
An agreement is signed between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence and The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria. The agreement concers cooperation in the sphere of information and the operation of the NATO Information Centre.
AAYPL Vice President and Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Youth Club Secretary General, Avgustina Tzvetkova, attends an AAYPL Bureau Meeting in Oslo and participates in the AAYPL Annual Conference in Oslo on Regional Cooperation and Security and Strategic Implications of Energy.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria co-sponsors a Regional Public Forum dubbed as the Future of Nature Depends on Your Decisions, organized by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds, a partner of BirdLife International.
Dr. Charles Kupchan, Professor of International Relations at Georgetown University, delivers a lecture at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.

July

Spain’s Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
American Jewish Committee’s Associate Executive Director Shula Bahat visits Bulgaria as a guest speaker of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and of the Civil Society Development Foundation.
Netherlands Ambassador to Bulgaria Jonkheer W. Theo Six donates video materials, magazines and brochures on the Royal Netherlands Army and NATO to the library of the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
LaserCard Systems Corporation’s Director for European Operations Dr. Max Bodmer addresses the NATO Information Centre in Sofia. His visit is part of a cycle of lectures on NATO Enlargement and New Advanced Technologies.

August

Vice Admiral Daniel J. Murphy, Jr., Commander of the US Sixth Fleet and Commander of the Naval Striking and Support Forces Southern Europe, delivers a lecture before The Atlantic Club.

September

Two-day visit of an Atlantic Club delegation to Edirne.
German Marshall Fund President Craig Kennedy visits Sofia and lectures to the Atlantic Club.
Solomon Passy takes part in the annual meeting of the Turkish Atlantic Association. He meets NATO Deputy Secretary General Sergio Balanzino.
Premiere of the film “Agenda 1999”, dedicated to the Atlantic Club and the upcoming 43rd General Assembly of the ATA in Sofia.

October

Validation of a sheet of stamps commemorating the ATA General Assembly taking place in Sofia.
43rd ATA General Assembly in Sofia. For the first time in history this forum is being held in a non-NATO country. The opening ceremony is in the Parliament building. Addresses are read by President Petar Stoyanov and the President of the National Assembly Yordan Sokolov. More than 700 people from 40 countries participate in the Assembly. Speaking before the Assembly are Prime Minister Ivan Kostov, Foreign Minister Nadezhda Mihailova, Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofianski, Military Minister Georgi Ananiev, Chief of General Staff Gen. Micho Mihov. Among the foreign guests are Nobel Peace Laureates Shimon Peres and Lech Walesa, NATO Assistant Secretary of State Sergio Balanzino, NATO Supreme Force Commander Europe Gen. Wesley Clark, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Daniel Tarshis, Macedonian opposition leader Ljubcho Georgievski, Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the UN Mohamed Shachirbay and others.
Programme speech by US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe Mark Grossman
Solemn opening of the Assembly, first plenary discussion “Transformed NATO and the UN: A global partnership for peace in the 21st century
Plenary sessions: ‘The Transatlantic Link 50 years after the Marshall Plan’. “The importance of the enlargement of Euro-Atlantic institutions for the future of security.”
Plenary: “NATO enlargement in South-East Europe: a necessity and a challenge”; “The Euro-Atlantic Community and its neighbours: the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Central Asia, the South Atlantic and the Pacific”
Closing plenary: “Sources and dimensions of ethnic conflict and regional instability.”
Lecture by Shimon Peres, former Prime Minister of Israel, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
Robert Hunter, US Permanent Representative to NATO, delivers a lecture to the Atlantic Club.
Eberhard Diepgen, Mayor of Berlin, visits the Atlantic Club and gives a lecture on “Berlin – from a divided city to a European metropolis and a centre of competence for East-West contacts”.

November

Norman Ray, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defence, delivers a lecture to the Atlantic Club.
José Cutileiro, Secretary General of the Western European Union (WEU), addresses the Atlantic Club.
George Richardson, Director of the European Foundation Centre, delivers a lecture to the Atlantic Club.

December

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, Mesut Yılmaz, addresses the Atlantic Club.
A delegation of the club participated in the 7th International Conference of the Greek Association for Atlantic and European Cooperation. Passy’s meeting with Greek President Constantinos Stefanopoulos.
The Atlantic Club General Assembly and annual Christmas Reception are held.

1996

January – February

Dr. Passy visits the Bulgarian Base on Livingstone Island, Antarctica, within the framework of the Fourth National Antarctic Expedition, organized by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.

March

Sofia Municipal Council, acting on proposal by The Atlantic Club, approves a plan to set up monument of late NATO Secretary General Manfred Woerner in Sofia.

April

A study tour of NATO HQ and SHAPE is organized by the Club for leading Bulgarian journalists. The tour is sponsored by NATIP.
The Club co-sponsors the lecture of Prof. Balsa Spadier, Chairman of Serbia’s Constitutional Court and a participant in the Dayton negotiations.
The Atlantic Club gives a farewell reception in honour of Apostolic Nuncio Mario Rizzi.
Bosnian Peace Implementation Coordinator Ambassador William D. Montgomery, Club’s Honorary Director, addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club publishes the Bulgarian version of the NATO Handbook, co-sponsored by NATIP.

May

NATO Secretary General Javier Solana unveils the Dr. Manfred Woerner Monument erected by The Atlantic Club in Sofia. Dr. Solana delivers a speech at The Atlantic Club.
The Third annual Partnership for Peace Film Festival, co-sponsored by AAVC and The Atlantic Club, is held.
Dr. Passy participates in the 90th Annual Meeting of the American Jewish Committee in Washington, D.C.
His Majesty Simeon II, King of Bulgaria (1943-1946) and the Club’s Honorary Director, visits Bulgaria after 50 years in exile and addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.

June

The Club organizes a presentation of world famous Bulgarian-born jazz piano player Milcho Leviev, attended by H.M. King Simeon II and H.M. Queen Margarita.
The Club participates in an ATA Council meeting in Brussels.

July

Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev and former German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietriech Genscher are key-note speakers at an international seminar organized by The Atlantic Club and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.
General Sir Jeremy Mackenzie, SACEUR, delivers a speech at The Atlantic Club.
Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev delivers his annual foreign policy speech at The Atlantic Club.
UK Defence Secretary Michael Portillo delivers a speech at The Atlantic Club.

August

Vladimir Sorokin starts a round-the-world bicycle trip sponsored by the Club.

September

The Atlantic Club leadership has a lunch meeting with the newly appointed US Ambassador to Bulgaria Avis T. Bohlen.

October

United Opposition presidential nominee MP Peter Stoyanov presents his foreign policy platform in a speech delivered at The Atlantic Club.
Bulgarian Socialist Party presidential nominee Prof. Ivan Marazov and running mate Irina Bokova present their foreign policy platform in a speech delivered at The Atlantic Club.
The Atlantic Club President Dr. Solomon Passy meets independent presidential nominee Christo Boychev and running mate Ivan Koulekov.

November

The 42nd ATA General Assembly is held in Rome. ATA approves a new Statute and elects The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria founding President, Dr Solomon Passy, as Vice-Chairman of ATA. Dr. Passy becomes the first representative from Central and Eastern Europe to be elected to such a position by ATA. The ATA Bureau unanimously proposes that ATA hold the 1997 General Assembly in Sofia, acting on invitation extended by The Atlantic Club and Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofiyanski. Bulgaria’s President-elect Peter Stoyanov sends an address to the ATA General Assembly, which congratulates Stoyanov on his election.

December

A Club delegation participates in the Sixth International Symposium in Greece, Athens, organized by GAAEC.
A Club delegation participates in the International Conference The Balkans after the Dayton Accords, organized in Tirana by the Albanian Atlantic Association.
A meeting of The Atlantic Club’s General Assembly and the Christmas Reception of The Club are held. The events are attended by outgoing President Zhelev and President-elect Peter Stoyanov.

1995

January

Club Delegation led by The Atlantic Club President Dr. Solomon Passy visits the Bulgarian Antarctic Base on Livingstone Island, accompanied by Bulgaria’s Ambassador to Brazil and a TV crew. A Bulgarian post office formally opens on Livingstone Island.

February

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a press-launch of Europe, Europe – a book by Spain’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Jorge Fuentes. The book is presented by Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski and former Bulgarian National Assembly Chairman Alexander Yordanov.

March

Former NATO Secretary General Lord Carrington delivers a speech at The Atlantic Club. The Club gives a reception in his honour.
A group of Bulgarian businessmen, organized by The Atlantic Club, visits the NATO HQ in Brussels.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Nikolay N. Afanasievsky delivers a speech at the Club. The Club gives a reception in his honour.
General George A. Joulwan, SACEUR, delivers a speech at The Atlantic Club. The Club gives a reception in his honour.

April

The Atlantic Club, in cooperation with the Centre for Liberal Strategies and the Euro-Atlantic Foundation, organizes a national debate on Bulgarian Consensus on Bulgaria’s Membership of NATO.
On occasion of the 4th birthday of the Club and the 46th anniversary of NATO, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Zhan Videnov delivers a lecture at The Atlantic Club (attendance: 1,500).
The National Conference The Atlantic Values and NATO: Bulgarian Consensus is held at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture. Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev delivers an opening address. Opposition leader Ivan Kostov and a majority of MPs give speeches.
Bulgaria and the Euro-Atlantic Security Structures Conference is organized in cooperation with the National Association for International Relations (NAMO) at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture. Bulgaria’s President, Zhelyu Zhelev, holds a working meeting with the leadership of the Euro-Atlantic associations.
Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev gives his annual foreign policy speech at the Club (attendance: 1,500).
Club members visit the Assarel-Medet ore dressing works to present films about the Third National Antarctic Expedition.
The 50 years since World War II Round-Table Discussion, co-sponsored by the Club, is held.
The Second International Conference, Black Sea: Naval View, organized by the Bulgarian Navy and The Atlantic Club, is held in Varna.

May

The Atlantic Club President Dr. Solomon Passy attends the 89th Annual Meeting of the American Jewish Committee in Washington, D.C.
The Second Partnership for Peace International Film Festival, organized by AAVC and The Atlantic Club, is held.
An ACYPL delegation visits Sofia and is hosted by the Club. The delegation is received by Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Zhan Videnov, the Bulgarian National Bank Governor Todor Vulchev, Cabinet Ministers and opposition leaders.
Dr. Passy takes part in an ATA Council meeting in Brussels.
A delegation of The Atlantic Club and of the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute, under a Foreign Ministry mandate, participate in the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Seoul, South Korea.
A Club delegation visits Moldova at the invitation of President Mircea Snegur, to share experience with Moldovan colleagues on the foundation and management of an Atlantic association. The Delegation has meetings with President Snegur, the Government, the Parliament, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence and members of the Bulgarian minority in Moldova.

June

Marshal Viktor Kulikov, Commander-in-Chief of the Warsaw Pact Organization (1977 – 1990), delivers a speech at The Atlantic Club. Marshal Kulikov’s appearance at The Atlantic Club throws bridge to the small minority of opponents to NATO membership. The visit is sponsored by the United Bulgarian Bank, St. Nicholas International Orthodox Bank and Chapp Holding.
The Atlantic Club hosts a lunch in honour of commanders participating in the Partnership for Peace’s “Cooperative Rescue” International Exercise in Black Sea off Varna.
A Third International Conference on Sustainable Development is held under the Club’s auspices and co-sponsored by BASA, the Ministry of Science, Education and Technologies, Union Atlantic Ltd. and United Bulgarian Bank.

July

The Atlantic Club President, Dr. Solomon Passy, hosts lunches with newly elected Director-Generals of the Bulgarian National Television, the Bulgarian National Radio, the Bulgarian News Agency, the Bulgarian National Bank Governor, and the Ambassadors of the US, UK, Sweden, Czech Republic, Spain and Italy.

August

The Atlantic Club organizes a publicity and PR for Partnership for Peace “Breeze ’95” Exercise, on the Black Sea off Varna.

October

The Sofia Municipal Council, acting on a proposal by The Atlantic Club, resolves to name a street in Sofia after late NATO Secretary General Manfred Woerner. Sofia becomes the world’s first city to pay such tribute to the North Atlantic Alliance.
A Club delegation participates in the 41st ATA General Assembly in Toronto.

November

A Club delegation participates in the 6th Antalya Conference on Security and Cooperation.
The Atlantic Club President Dr. Solomon Passy participates in a Conference on Promoting Tolerance in Europe, organized by the American Jewish Committee and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, in the US.
Prof. Dan Nelson from the Old Dominion University, delivers a speech at The Atlantic Club.
The Fourth Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition organized by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute leaves for the Bulgarian Antarctic Base on Livingstone Island.

December

The Atlantic Club hosts a visit by an American Jewish Committee delegation led by AJC Executive Director David A. Harris. The delegation meets Bulgaria’s President, Zhelyu Zhelev, Prime Minister Zhan Videnov and National Assembly Chairman Blagovest Sendov.
The US Ambassador to the EU, Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat, delivers a speech at the Club, introduced by the US Ambassador to Bulgaria William D. Montgomery.
Former WEU Secretary General Willem van Eekelen gives a speech at the Club, introduced by the Netherlands Ambassador to Bulgaria Frans Brouwers.
Slovak State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Josef Sestak addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
Prof. Willie Breytenbach and Dr. Patrick Ncube from the Republic of South Africa deliver a lecture at the Club, with the co-sponsorship of the South African Embassy in Sofia.
Dr. Passy delivers a speech to a NATO Defence College delegation visiting Sofia.
The Atlantic Club General Assembly and the annual Christmas Reception of the Club are held.

1994

January

Dr. Passy visits the 9th Tank Brigade and delivers a speech on Atlantic values.
The Third Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition, organized by The Atlantic Club and including The Atlantic Club’s President Dr. Solomon Passy goes to King George Island, Antarctica.
Dr. Passy takes part in a World Net live TV interactive debate with the US Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Madeleine Albright.
NATO Summit in Brussels approves the Partnership for Peace. The Atlantic Club Coordinator, Mae Johnson, attends the NATO Summit and briefs Club Council.
The Bulgarian Government decides to join the Partnership for Peace.
The Club gives a farewell reception in honour of Denmark’s Ambassador to Bulgaria, Klaus Otto Kappel, the Club’s Honorary Director.

February

Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev signs the Partnership for Peace.
The Club leadership visits Silistra at the invitation of its Mayor and lectures on Atlantic values and Partnership for Peace prospects.

March

The Bulgarian National Assembly Chairman Alexander Yordanov delivers a public speech on foreign policy sponsored by The Atlantic Club (attendance: 1,000).
The In or at War — It’s Never a Bore TV film about the Belgian Armed Forces, the first in “I WAS A SOLDIER IN A …. NATO ARMED FORCES” series, produced by AAVC and co-sponsored by The Atlantic Club, is premiered at a presentation including a lecture on the Belgian Armed Forces reforms, by Belgium’s Ambassador to Bulgaria, Koenraad Rouvroy.
The premiere of A Touch of Antarctica TV film, produced by the Bulgarian National Television Atlas Programme and co-sponsored by The Atlantic Club, is broadcasted. The film tells about the Third Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition, organized by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.
Technology of Power, a book by A. Avtorhanov, co-sponsored by the Club, has a press launch.

April

A reception marking the 3rd birthday of The Atlantic Club and the 45th anniversary of NATO is attended by 1,500 people, including WEU Secretary General Dr. Willem van Eekelen. Dr. van Eekelen delivers in Sofia a speech sponsored by The Atlantic Club.
Dr. Passy suggests on National Television that the Government of Bulgaria initiate the creation of a joint Bulgarian-Greek and Bulgarian-Turkish military corps.
The premiere of Bulgarians at the End of the World TV film, produced by the Bulgarian National Television Atlas Programme and co-sponsored by The Atlantic Club, is broadcasted. The film tells about the Second Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition, organized by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.
Spain’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Jorge Fuentes is a Special Speaker at the National Insecurity National Conference co-sponsored by The Atlantic Club.
The Euro-Atlantic Youth Committee co-sponsored by The Atlantic Club is founded.

May

Former French Prime Minister Pierre Pflimlin delivers a speech on occasion of Europe Day, co-sponsored by Sofia University, the Euro-Atlantic Youth Committee and the Club.
The Partnership for Peace International Film Festival is organized with the co-sponsorship of the AAVC and the Club.
At a meeting in Brussels the ATA Council decides to offer The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria a new, enhanced “associate membership” status.
The Atlantic Club’s Aero-Space Programme sponsors a Bulgarian project launching an antenna for joint US-Russian space mission in 1995.
On behalf of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, Chairman of Department for External Church Affairs of Moscow Patriarchate, delivers a speech sponsored by the Club.

June

A Charity Exhibition of Ada Mitrani is held on occasion of International Children’s Day. The Exhibition is co-sponsored by the American Center in Sofia, the International Women’s Club and The Atlantic Club.
The 50 Years since D-Day Round-table Discussion is held with the co-sponsorship of the Ministry of Defence, The Atlantic Club, Khan Kroum Foundation, the Institute for Social and Political Studies, G.S. Rakovski Military Academy, the Americanists Association, and the Euro-Atlantic Youth Committee.
CIA Former Deputy Director for Operations Richard Stolz visits Bulgaria as guest of The Atlantic Club and of the Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Intelligence Forum and delivers in Sofia, Turnovo and Bourgas public speeches sponsored by the Club.
The Second International Conference on Sustainable Development, Energy Efficiency and High Technologies is organized. The Conference is sponsored by The Atlantic Club and co-sponsored by BASA. The opening speech is delivered by Education Minister Marko Todorov, founding member of The Atlantic Club. Sir Alan Walters, Vice Chairman of American International Group Inc. (AIG) and former economic adviser to Margaret Thatcher, delivers a public speech co-sponsored by The Atlantic Club and the Institute for Market Economics. Sir Alan is introduced by UK Ambassador to Bulgaria Richard Thomas.
The Young Political Leaders Conference Building Links for a New Generation in Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic, is organized by the Future of Europe Trust (FET) – the Czech counterpart of The Atlantic Club.
Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman, Admiral William A. Owens, delivers a speech sponsored by The Atlantic Club.
Annual foreign policy speech of Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev is delivered before The Atlantic Club. The topic is Bulgaria in Partnership for Peace (attendance: 1,200).

July

St. Petersburg’s Mayor and ex-USSR MP, Anatoly Sobchak, delivers a speech sponsored by The Atlantic Club.
Joint Bulgarian-Austrian business seminar on privatization, banking and investment, co-sponsored by the Bourgas Regional Governor and The Atlantic Club, is held.
The Club gives a farewell reception in honour of John Kunstadter, a Member of the Club from the US Embassy in Sofia. The reception is attended by Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Lyuben Berov.
Club leaders visit Silistra at the invitation of the Mayor to promote activities in Sustainable Development Programmes in the region.
US Defence Secretary William J. Perry delivers a speech at The Atlantic Club during a trip to Sofia as first US Secretary of Defence ever to visit Bulgaria.
A General Assembly of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria is held. Special greetings are sent by Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev.

August

NATO Secretary General Manfred Woerner passes away. The Atlantic Club organizes a memorial service at St. Nedelya’s Cathedral in Sofia. Sermons are given by Rev. Antonii and by the Apostolic Nuncio in Sofia Mario Rizzi. The Atlantic Club’s President Dr. Solomon Passy attends the funeral service in Brussels. The Atlantic Club decides to establish the Manfred Woerner International Foundation as tribute to the late Secretary General’s outstanding contribution to the advancement of Atlantic values.
Vladimir Sorokin starts a round-the-world bicycle trip sponsored by the Club.
The Atlantic Club sponsors the Third International Orienteering Tournament.

September

Portugal’s President Mario Soares delivers a speech at The Atlantic Club. The Club gives a reception in his honour.
The International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Hans Blix delivers a speech at The Atlantic Club. The Club gives a reception in his honour.
The Club, in cooperation with the Bulgarian Olympic Committee, sponsors an centennial jubilee celebration of Bulgarian gymnastics.
A Club delegation takes part in a security seminar organized by the French Association for the Atlantic Community in Paris.
A group of Bulgarian journalists sponsored by The Atlantic Club makes a study tour in NATO HQ and SHAPE.

October

The Manfred Worner Memorial Conference on Partnership for Peace and NATO in the Balkans is organized by The Atlantic Club at Boyana Residence. The Conference is co-sponsored by the Bulgarian National Assembly, NATIP, NAA, the Western European Union and the Centre for European Security Studies. Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev makes the opening address. Key-note speakers are Moldova’s President Mircea Snegur and Albanian Parliament Speaker Peter Arbnori.
A Club delegation participates in an Elections Study Tour in Germany organized by the German Atlantic Society.
A Club delegation takes part in the Fifth International Antalya Conference organized by the Turkish Atlantic Council.
A Club delegation participates in the 40th ATA General Assembly in The Hague. The General Assembly decides to offer an associate membership status, already given to The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, to the Atlantic Councils of Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia and Slovenia.

November

His Holiness Pope John Paul II grants audience to The Atlantic Club. The Forty-member delegation includes leading Bulgarian intellectuals and statesmen.
A Club delegation takes part in an Elections Study Tour in the US, organized by ACYPL.
The Third Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition organized by The Club leaves for the Bulgarian base on Livingstone Island, Antarctica.

December

The Club organizes a Charity Christmas Exhibition of handicapped painters.
The Club hosts a Charity Lunch for orphans.
The Club’s Christmas Reception is attended by 1,300 people.

1993

January

Club Council visits Skopje at the invitation of local activists to share Bulgaria’s experience in the founding of an Atlantic Club. The Council meets with the Macedonian Defence Minister Vlado Popovski, opposition members and the Metropolitan of Skopje.
The Club leadership meets EUROMIL President Jens C. Rotboell, who joins the Club’s Board of Honorary Directors.
The Club co-sponsors a charity exhibition organized by BUDNO Charity Foundation, intended to support the creation of orphans’ villages in Bulgaria.
The Made in Bulgaria business magazine sponsored by the Club publishes a pilot issue.

February

Prof. Husseyin Bagci from the Middle East Technical University, Ankara, visits Sofia and delivers a public lecture under the Club’s auspices, at G.S. Rakovski Military Academy in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club becomes a founding member of the Euro-Atlantic Foundation for International & Security Studies. The Foundation’s first Chairman Zdravko Popov is The Atlantic Club Board member and former Foreign Policy Adviser to President Zhelev.
The first part of a TV series about the first Bulgarian contingent committed to UNTAC, sponsored by the Club and produced by Board member Yuliana Toncheva, goes on air.

March

A Club delegation visits Moscow to explore opportunities for the establishment of an Atlantic Club. The delegation is received by His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia. It visits Star City and meets with leading Russian cosmonauts.
Polish Deputy Defence Minister, Przemislaw Grudzinski, visits the Club and talks with the leadership.
The Club leaders meet Vice Admiral Peter Woodhead, Deputy SACLANT.
The Club co-sponsors Do You Know NATO? National Competition, together with Bulgarska Armiya daily.

April

UK Under-Secretary of Defence, Archie Hamilton, meets with the Club’s leadership.
Club Council meets Minister-Counselor Vernon D. Penner, Special Assistant to SACEUR, General John M. Shalikashvili.
The second National Sports Tournament for The Atlantic Club Cup is held.
Bulgarian Deputy Defence Minister and Club member Hristo Tomov addresses The Atlantic Club Council.

May

The Atlantic Club launches its Antarctic Programme and becomes a co-founder of the non-governmental Bulgarian Antarctic Institute.
Prof. Stephen Larrabee, RAND Corporation, visits Sofia and delivers a public lecture under the Club’s auspices at Sofia University.
The Atlantic Club co-sponsors the New Europe – New Management Style International Conference in Sofia, under the auspices of CECIOS and Open Market International Consortium.
The National Security Decision-Making Process Seminar, sponsored by The Atlantic Club, President Zhelev’s Office and The Atlantic Council of the United States, is organized in Sofia.
The Black Sea – Naval View ’93 International Symposium, organized by the Bulgarian Navy and co-sponsored by The Atlantic Club, is held in Varna.
A Delegation of the French Association for the Atlantic Community visits Bulgaria at invitation of The Atlantic Club.
The Competition for Democratic Institutions NATO Fellowship Program is over. Bulgarian citizens receive 13 scholarships out of the 64 offered to cooperation partners.
A Club representative participates in the 3rd International Symposium of Atlantic Education Committee, organized by GAAEC in Athens.
The second Annual Meeting of The Atlantic Club General Assembly is held. Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev and NATO Secretary General Manfred Woerner cable greetings to the Assembly.

June

Montevideo-based Institute of International Studies Director Prof. Alphonse E. Max delivers a public speech sponsored by the Club.
The Sustainable Urban Development – Gabrovo Demonstration Zone for Energy Efficiency International Symposium is organized in Gabrovo by the Club and Gabrovo Municipality.
ATA Vice-Chairman and GAAEC President Theodossis Georgiou visits Bulgaria as The Atlantic Club’s guest. Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev receives Georgiou and becomes the first head of state in Eastern and Central Europe to receive an ATA Bureau member.
Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev delivers his annual foreign policy speech before The Atlantic Club. The lecture is attended by the ATA Vice-Chairman and GAAEC President Georgiou.
The Club and Askeer Theatre Academy co-sponsor mid-summer-day happening in Sofia.
NATO Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Gebhardt von Moltke delivers a speech sponsored by the Club.
The Club organizes the presentation of a book on Spain’s transition to democracy by Prof. Dragomir Draganov, founding member and Club Council member. His study is sponsored by the 1990 – 91 NATO Democratic Institution Fellowship.
A Club delegation participates in the 1993 Biannual Assembly of AAYPL in Bonn.

July

The Science and National Security in the Changing World seminar, co-sponsored by The Club, is held.
US Congressman H. Martin Lancaster visits Bulgaria as The Atlantic Club’s guest, delivers speeches sponsored by the Club in Sofia and Varna, is received by Bulgaria’s President, Zhelyu Zhelev, Prime Minister Lyuben Berov and Defence Minister Valentin Alexandrov, and meets all parliamentary groups. Congressman Lancaster joins the Club’s Board of Honorary Directors.
The Club is co-founder of the Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Intelligence Forum.

August

Dr. Passy delivers a speech on Atlantic values and foreign policy before the Rotary Club in Sofia.
The Club sponsors the only European participant in an American competition for Elvis impersonators, in Memphis, Tenn.
The Atlantic Club and the Bulgarian Government co-found BASA.

September

His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I visits Bulgaria and delivers a public speech sponsored by The Atlantic Club.
NAA President Loic Bouvard and NAA Secretary General Peter Corterier visit Sofia. Bouvard delivers a public speech sponsored by the Club.
The Developing Entrepreneurship in South-Eastern Europe Young Leaders’ Seminar is held in Blagoevgrad under the honorary patronage of Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev and co-organized by The Atlantic Club, The Atlantic Council of the United States and the American University in Bulgaria.
A 30-members Bulgarian delegation led by the Club’s President Dr. Solomon Passy participates in the 39th ATA General Assembly in Athens. Defence Minister Valentin Alexandrov addresses the ATA. ATA, inspired by the 3-year-old application of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria for full membership, decides to make modest changes in its Constitution and to offer associate status to the Atlantic associations of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Russia as well.
The AAYPL leadership and an ACYPL delegation visit Bulgaria, where they are hosted by The Atlantic Club.
The Third National Conference Physical Education & Sport in the Balkans during Renaissance, co-sponsored by the Club, is organized.
An exhibition of medals and plaquettes by Ivanka Mincheva and etchings by Russlan Kotev, co-sponsored by the Club, are organized at Mall Galleries, Trafalgar Square, London.

October

A Club delegation including The Atlantic Club President Dr. Solomon Passy, Deputy Foreign Minister Dimiter Ikonomov and National Security Committee Deputy Chairman Dimiter Yonchev, attends the 4th Antalya Conference organized by the Turkish Atlantic Council.
A Club delegation attends the Inaugural Assembly of the Atlantic Council of Slovenia, in Ljubljana.
Club representatives visit Vratsa, where they meet local officials and deliver a lecture on Atlanticism and foreign policy.

November

The Institute for EastWest Studies President Prof. John Edwin Mroz delivers a public speech sponsored by the Club.
Options for the Future Security Architecture for Central and Eastern Europe, an Institute for East West Studies workshop, is hosted by Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev and co-organized by the Club.
An Atlantic Club Restaurant opens at the Club’s Headquarters.
UN Under-Secretary General, Ambassador Vladimir Petrovski, delivers a late-night speech sponsored by the Club.
The Second Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition, November 1993 – March 1994, leaves Bulgaria for Livingstone Island, under the auspices of the Club. Expedition Leader is Prof. Christo Pimpirev, Director of The Atlantic Club’s Antarctic Programme and Director of the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute, co-founded by The Atlantic Club. Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev receives the Expedition before its departure.
The Tolerance and Civil Society Public Conference, co-sponsored by the Club, takes place in Kazanluk.
A Club delegation takes part in the Inaugural Conference of the Atlantic Council of the United Kingdom, of which The Atlantic Club is a founding member.

December

BASA, co-founded by the Club and the Bulgarian Government, receives court registration. The opening ceremony is attended by Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev.
Munich-based Suedost-Institut Deputy Director Dr. Franz-Lothar Altmann delivers in Sofia a public speech sponsored by the Club.
The Balkan Business Seminar, organized by GAAEC President, Theodossis Georgiou, is co-sponsored by The Club.
Christopher Donnelly, Special Adviser to NATO Secretary General for Central and Eastern European Affairs, delivers a speech at a late-night reception, sponsored by the Club.
The Bulgarian Parliament unanimously approves the Declaration stating that Bulgaria would join NATO. The Original text of the Declaration is submitted to Grand National Assembly in December 1990 by founders of The Atlantic Club.
The Atlantic Club’s annual Christmas Reception is attended by 1,200 people.

1992

February

A Chapter of The Atlantic Club is founded in Bourgas.
A Club delegation visits NATO HQ in Brussels and SHAPE HQ in Mons.
Dr. Passy delivers a lecture on environmental issues before pupils of Secondary School No. 138 in Sofia.

March

The Club sponsors the Bulgarian-German conference Democratic Bulgaria and Unified Germany in Modern Europe in Sofia.

April

Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev delivers a foreign policy lecture on the topic of Bulgaria within the European Structures, under the Club’s auspices at Sofia’s Central Military Club (attendance: 800).
Former CIA Director William E. Colby visits Bulgaria at the invitation of the President’s National Security Adviser General Stoyan Andreev, the Club’s Honorary Director. Colby delivers a public speech on the Prospects for the Future of Bulgarian-U.S. Intelligence Relationships, under the Club’s auspices, at Sofia University, then joins the Club’s Board of Honorary Directors.
A Chapter of The Atlantic Club is founded in Rousse.
USS Whidbey Island, the first ship of newest Amphibious Landing Ship Dock class, docks in Bourgas. The ship’s commander, Bruce E. Sonn (US Navy), delivers a public speech organized by The Atlantic Club’s Bourgas Chapter.
The first National Sports Tournament for The Atlantic Club Cup is held.
The first Annual Meeting of The Atlantic Club General Assembly. Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev and NATO Secretary General Manfred Woerner cable greetings to the Assembly.

May

UK Permanent Representative for NATO Ambassador Sir Michael Alexander delivers a speech sponsored by The Atlantic Club at Sofia University.
The Club leadership meets with a delegation from the National War College of the United States.
A Club delegation takes part in the Second International Seminar in Greece, Athens and Delphi, organized by GAAEC.
A farewell party in honour of Rod Moore, an Honorary Member of the Club from the US Embassy in Sofia, is organized. Moore accepts life membership of The Atlantic Club.

June

The Atlantic Club’s Gabrovo Chapter organizes a conference on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the launch of the European Recovery Program (“Marshall Plan”) in Gabrovo.
The Club leaders visit Smolyan, where they give a lecture on foreign policy and Atlantic values.
The Club leaders meet with a delegation of The Atlantic Council of the United States, led by General Carl E. Vuono (US Army), former Chief of Staff.
The Atlantic Club’s Bourgas Chapter organizes lectures by members of a visiting Belgian military inspection team and gives a reception in their honor.

July

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Philip Dimitrov, founding member and then Club’s Honorary Director, delivers a public lecture sponsored by the Club, on the topic of The Foreign Policy of Bulgaria, at Sofia’s Central Military Club (attendance: 700).
Dr. Solomon Passy and Prof. Dragomir Draganov, The Atlantic Club Director of Education, deliver public lectures at the Military Club of Pleven.
The Atlantic Club’s Bourgas Chapter organizes a publicity and gives a reception on occasion of the port call by US Sixth Fleet rescue and salvage ship, USS Grapple.

August

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria confirms its formal application for full membership in ATA.
The Atlantic Club, together with Rakovski Bulgarian Officers Legion Confederation (member of EUROMIL) and the Union for Private Economic Enterprise co-sponsor joint social security programme for retired military officers.

September

Spain’s Permanent Representative to NATO, Ambassador Carlos Miranda, visits Bulgaria as The Atlantic Club’s guest, delivers a public lecture on The Atlantic Alliance in the 90s, under the Club’s auspices, at Sofia’s Central Military Club, and moderates a round-table discussion on the Spanish Transition to Democracy, at Sofia University.
The Atlantic Club leadership meets with Lieutenant General P. Castelo Branco, Commandant of NATO Defence College in Rome.
Dr. Passy delivers a lecture on Atlantic values before the Bulgarian branch of Women’s International Zionist Organization (WIZO).
A Club delegation participates in the Young Political Leaders International Symposium, organized in Athens and Thessaloniki by GAAEC and AAYPL.

October

The Atlantic Association of Youth and Students’ Leaders are founded as Chapter of The Atlantic Club.
The Atlantic Club is represented at the Third International Antalya Conference on Security and Cooperation, organized by the Turkish Atlantic Committee. Addressing the Antalya Conference, NATO Secretary General Manfred Woerner highlights the role of The Club and its activities.
Club Council Members visit Bansko and meet town leadership.
The Atlantic Club is represented at the International Seminar on Security and Stability Needs for the Central European Region, organized in Bucharest by the Romanian Euro-Atlantic Center in cooperation with NATO General Secretariat.
At the 38th General Assembly in Copenhagen, ATA, inspired by The Atlantic Club membership application, creates an associate status for the first time in its 38-year history. The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria is the only organization to be conferred this status. At present, the ATA has 17 affiliate organizations.

November

A Chapter of The Atlantic Club is founded in Varna. The ceremony is part of an official programme of port call to Varna by an eight-vessel naval unit of NATO STANAVFORLANT. The Atlantic Club President Dr. Solomon Passy, Vice Admiral Ventseslav Velkov, Commander, Bulgarian Navy, and Rear Admiral Donald Dyer, Commander, STAVNAFORLANT, deliver public speeches.
Club Council members visit Petrich and meet town leadership.
Dr. Passy delivers a public lecture on Atlantic values at G.S. Rakovski Military Academy in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club advertizes NATO’s 1993 – 94 Democratic Institutions Fellowships.

December

The Club gives an annual reception on the occasion of its association with ATA, honoured by Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev. Speakers: Bulgaria’s Deputy Prime Minister Ilko Eskenazi and Greece’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Anastasse Sideris (NATO Contact Point) (attendance: 1,500).
The Atlantic Club sponsors a Christmas exhibition of young Bulgarian artist Dimitar Ugrinov.
Club Council visits Burzia, a Mountain Farm Base, part of the Higher Institute of Forestry and Forest Technology.
Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev, in his New Year message, highlights the association of The Atlantic Club with ATA as one of Bulgaria’s political successes of 1992.

1991

January

The first initiative group in support of the initiative of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria gathers in Sofia and proclaims the future establishment of the Club.

April

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria is founded (4 April 1991).
Club activists push a bill through the Parliamentary National Security Committee that Bulgaria should integrate into NATO and WEU structures.
A Club representative takes part in the European Regional Project U.S.-European Security Issues, sponsored by the United States Information Agency.

May

A Baker-Genscher joint statement advocates for the creation of Atlantic Councils in Warsaw Pact countries.
The Director of Education of the US Atlantic Council John Baker visits Bulgaria and delivers a public speech sponsored by The Atlantic Club.
The Club leadership meets with a delegation from the National War College of the United States.

June

NATO Secretary General Manfred Woerner visits Sofia, addresses the Parliament, delivers a speech at Sofia University, confers with Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev and meets with The Atlantic Club, which is the organizer of the visit.
The Atlantic Club files a formal application for full membership of the Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA).

July

US Permanent Representative to NATO Ambassador William H. Taft IV visits Bulgaria and delivers a public speech under the Club‘s auspices at Sofia’s Central Military Club. Later, Ambassador Taft joins The Club’s Board of Honorary Directors.
A Club delegation participates in the Leaders’ Programme Civilian Oversight of Military Establishments in Post-Communist Central and Eastern Europe, organized by The Atlantic Council of the United States.
The US Permanent Representative at CFE Negotiations, Ambassador John J. Maresca, visits Sofia and meets with The Atlantic Club leadership.
The Warsaw Treaty Organisation is formally disbanded.

August

NATO Director of Information and Press Dr. Erika v. C. Bruce visits Bulgaria and meets with The Atlantic Club leadership.

October

His Holiness The XIV Dalai Lama of Tibet visits Bulgaria as The Atlantic Club’s special guest. He meets with Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev and the ACB’s leadership and delivers a public speech under the Club’s auspices at Sofia University.
Bulgaria’s Ambassador to the US, Ognyan Pishev, the Club’s Honorary Director, represents The Atlantic Club at the 37th ATA General Assembly in Washington, D.C. No formal decision is adopted by ATA on the Bulgarian application for membership.
The first local Chapter of The Atlantic Club is founded in Gabrovo.

November

Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev, a founding member and Honorary Director of the Club, visits NATO HQ in Brussels.

December

An inaugural meeting of the North Atlantic Cooperation Council is held at NATO HQ.
The Soviet Union is dissolved.

1990

August

Dr. Solomon Passy is elected to the Bulgarian Parliament. He starts to promote Bulgarian integration within NATO structures and delivers a speech based on the conclusions of a report stating that the USSR would soon disintegrate.

September

Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev, MP Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov and MP Dr. Solomon Passy move to the Grand National Assembly that Bulgaria join the Allied Forces in the Persian Gulf.

October

The Grand National Assembly passes a Resolution on Bulgaria’s joining the Allied Forces in the War in the Persian Gulf.

November

Five MPs of different parliamentary groups visit the NATO Headquarters and SHAPE (first Warsaw Pact parliamentarians to have ever visited NATO HQ). There, they meet Secretary General Manfred Woerner and U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO William Taft and raize the issue of Bulgaria’s membership in NATO. They decide to establish The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.
The North Atlantic Assembly accords an associate delegate status to parliamentarians from Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland and the Soviet Union.

December

The Grand National Assembly passes a resolution moved by Solomon Passy and Lyubomir Ivanov and signed by 135 MPs, that Bulgaria orient its foreign policy towards accession to the European Communities.

2023

February

At the invitation of the President of the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, Solomon Passy, and partners, the farewell gathered several hundred Bulgarians from all over the country, representing the government, parliament, business, NGOs, media, military, academic and cultural circles, and the diplomatic corps.

Ambassador Mustafа’s tenure in Bulgaria is ending, but her mandate will leave an indelible mark on the relationship between the United States and Bulgaria.

This year marks the 120th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and the United States. The bilateral relationship between our two countries has been strengthened by Ambassador Mustafa, particularly in the fields of energy diversification, anti-corruption, and mutual defense.

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and U.S. Embassy Sofia have also enjoyed a cooperative partnership on academic and scientific efforts during Ambassador Mustafa’s tenure, including the 20-minute live downlink with the International Space Station in 2021.

The event was organized with the help of our partners, Euroins Bulgaria, Asarel-Medet AD, Dundee Precious Metals Bulgaria, Honeywell, MTG Dolphin, Anthill , Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Bulgarien, Nedelya, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Wine cellar “Four Friends”. Students from American College of Sofia and American University in Bulgaria – AUBG, delivered a remarkable musical performance.

Recent events have reaffirmed Russia’s long-standing policy of taking political advantage of Europe’s overdependence on Russian gas and oil supplies. Today, the continent is experiencing energy turmoil, with natural gas prices rising to levels five times higher than a year ago. It has become painfully clear that energy independence is as important to national and European security as military defence.In June, the Atlantic Club in Bulgaria, with the support of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria and the American University in Bulgaria, hosted “Energy Dissected 2.0”, the second edition of the high-level conference in Sofia, which brought together representatives from the parliament and the government, energy analysts from Bulgaria, EU, Russia, and USA, as well as industry experts who shared their views on the historic turning point in Europe’s energy policy.

May

In the context of the war in Ukraine and other global challenges, Europe and its strategic partners from beyond the Atlantic have encountered unparalleled security trials. Among these issues, the integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union has emerged as an urgent necessity, considering the safeguarding of Europe’s secure and thriving destiny.Together with the European Liberal Forum, the Eurogroup ALDE Party – Liberals and Democrats for Europe and Sofia Tech Park, the “EU meets the Balkans” forum in Sofia brought together a number of politicians and public figures from across Europe to discuss regional cooperation in the Western Balkans and their integration into the EU in four thematic panels.During the event, speakers discussed the common challenges facing Europe and the integration of the Western Balkans into the EU as a guarantor for a stable and peaceful future.The panelists also addressed regional issues such as the foreign policy of the Republic of Turkey, the trilateral cooperation between Greece, Bulgaria and Romania, the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine and NATO enlargement in 2004.Other topics of discussion included building regional connectivity in important areas such as infrastructure, technology, digitalisation and common security, while developing resilience and preparedness to deal with modern threats and risks.Among the speakers and participants were Dr. Solomon Passy, Roberta Metsola, Olivér Várhelyi, Ivan Kondov, Danijela Đurović, Besnik Bislimi, Burak Akçapar, Megi Fino, Agneza Rusi Popovska, Ali Aslan, Iva Doychinova, Boyko Vassilev, Dušan Janjić, Shada Islam, Prof. Dr. İlber Ortaylı, Aylin Sekizkök, Dimitar Bechev, Ambassador Selim Yenel, Anna-Maria Konova, Adrian Davidoiu, Amb. Bisserka Benisheva, George Kremlis, Prof. Dr. Leander Litov, Matthew Boyse, Thorsten Geissler, Yordan Bozhilov, Dr. Maria Alesina, Ribal al-Assad, Dr. Sameer Patil, Vincent Campos, Svetoslav Ivanov, Alessandro Minuto-Rizzo, Antanas Valionis, Dr. Ioan Mircea Pascu, Kristiina Ojuland, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Alva Finn and Lyubomir Kyuchukov.

June

The third edition of the “Hello, Space! Bulgaria Calling” festival was successfully organized by the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria in collaboration with Sofia Tech Park and the Space and STEAM Atlantic cluster. The event took place on June 29th, 2023, at Sofia Tech Park and received invaluable support from the US Embassy Sofia and NASA. This year, the festival proudly secured 33 sponsorships and partnerships with prominent businesses and non-governmental organizations, both local and international.The festival’s core mission was to cultivate and nurture the aspirations of young minds, encouraging them to dream, think, and pursue careers in STEAM fields, thereby preparing them to become the scientists of tomorrow. Simultaneously, the festival aimed to create an enjoyable and engaging environment for all participants.A notable highlight of the event was the opportunity provided to Bulgarian students to watch a live presentation from Dr. Swati Mohan, an accomplished aerospace engineer who also served as the Guidance and Controls Operations Lead for the NASA Mars 2020 mission. Additionally, the students had the privilege of interacting with Lockheed Martin test pilot Gregory ‘Box’ Johnson, engaging in discussions and posing questions to these esteemed professionals.Under the overarching theme of “Ahead of the Future!”, this year’s festival showcased a range of captivating activities. Participants were treated to a virtual tour of CERN in Geneva, Switzerland, providing an immersive experience. Furthermore, the festival featured a demonstration flight over the skies of Sofia Tech Park by world record holder Nikolay Kalaydzhiev, captivating audiences with his remarkable skills. The Bulgarian Army Special Forces Brigade also conducted impressive demonstrations, further adding to the event’s appeal.Throughout the festival, numerous distinguished speakers delivered inspiring speeches to the public. Esteemed individuals such as Dr. Solomon Passy and the US Ambassador to Bulgaria Kenneth Merten shared their insights, along with accomplished young lecturers who have demonstrated their exceptional abilities and contributions to the field of space exploration, both in Bulgaria and internationally.In summary, the event hosted over 50 diverse activities, including science workshops, interactive exhibits, competitions, and award ceremonies. Moreover, the festival boasted an impressive lineup of 34 guest lecturers who shared their knowledge and expertise through captivating speeches and informative presentations. The “Hello, Space! Bulgaria Calling” festival successfully achieved its objectives of promoting scientific curiosity, fostering STEAM education, and inspiring the next generation of innovators.

July

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organised Ambassador Merten’s inauguration speech, which took place in Sofia Hotel Balkan, on the 27^thof July 2023, Thursday. He had an opening speech, then followed by Q&A discussion, in which participants were representatives of Bulgarian civil society, the media and young people.First, H.E. Merten spoke about his own experience in Bulgaria, and long history, culture, and the nature of the country. After that, he continued about the long-standing relations between the USA and Bulgaria and our shared 120 years of diplomatic history, where he delved about the decisive role of Januarius Macgahan and the scientist John Atanasoff. Then he elaborated about the current Bulgarian culture and the international achievements of the writers and scientist coming from the country. Apart from the historical analysis, our mutual relations continue to grow and intensify, in particular – trade amounting to more than 2 billion dollars, and cooperation in the academic, commercial, civil society and public spheres. At the middle of his speech, ambassador Merten mentioned the growing exports, potential partnerships with US companies and future connectivity in technology, while also acknowledging the success of the energy diversification of Bulgaria. Afterwards, he spoke about the security of the entire region, the US help for capable military, the 3 seas initiative and that democracy is under threat all around the globe. Lastly, he spoke about the people-to-people relations, and the fact that there are a quarter of a million Bulgarians in the USA and more than 90 000 Americans in Bulgaria each year, because we have shared values and visions for the future.The questions from civil society and the youth were about the black sea security strategy and disinformation, youth movements, challenges to the Black Sea regional security and democracy. Media asked H.E. Kenneth Merten about the Bulgarian visa-regime and the rule of law.Among the guests were the president Rosen Plevneliev, deputy chairpersons of the National assembly, ministers, ambassadors, members of the Bulgarian parliament, members of the European parliament, military personnel, and representatives of other non-governmental organizations.
In critical times for European energy security and facing the current challenges for the implementation of the energy transformation strategy, the Atlantic Club in Bulgaria and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea have organized Korea-Bulgaria Energy Forum, with focus on enhancing the cooperation for sustainable Energy Transformation and Energy Security. It took place on July 20, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. Hyatt Hotel.The forum has brought together representatives of the institutions, MPs, energy experts, as well as business and the academia sector representatives from Bulgaria and Korea. It explored the main challenges and possible solutions for energy transformation, the role of nuclear energy for the green transition, measures to ensure energy security and diversification in the country and the region, as well as the development of cooperation between the Republic of Korea and Bulgaria in the energy sector.The speakers were H.E. Rosen Hristov, Minister of Energy of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Bogomil Manchev, Chairperson of BULATOM, Mr. Tsanko Bachiiski, Chairperson of the Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NRA), Mr. Milko Kovachev, Bulgarian expert at the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mr.Nikolay Nalbantov, Director Energy Strategies and Policies for Sustainable Energy Development, Ministry of Energy, Mr. Delyan Dobrev, Energy Committee, National Assembly, a Korean representative, Ivan Ivanov, PhD, Chairperson, Energy and Water Regulatory Commission, Prof. Atanas Semov, Expert in International Relations from the Law Faculty of Sofia University, Mr. Martin Vladimirov, Director of Energy and Climate Program, CSD and Mr. Slavcho Neykov, Chairperson, Energy Management Institute.

November

On 7 November 2023, the third edition of the Powers Summit was held in Sofia Tech Park. The Bulgarian Davos was officially opened by Aniela Rousseva, who is the Director General of Global Webit events, together with Gergana Passy, President of Digital National Coalition, and Dr. Plamen Rusev, Executive Chairman of Webit Foundation. The forum brought together the leaders of parliamentary political groups and their teams, as well as representatives of the executive branch, to find real-time solutions on key issues in dialogue with industry, civil society and academia.

For the first year, the Powers Summit kicked off with the new “Prime Minister’s Session” and “Ministerial Sessions,” featuring Prime Minister Acad. Denkov, followed by the participation of Finance Minister Assen Vassilev and the Ministers of Energy, Economy, Education, Health, Agriculture and other ministers and members of the top echelon of government.

This year’s “Bulgarian Davos” was dedicated to the themes of health, energy, sustainable development and Brand Bulgaria – entrepreneurship, investment and education.

The Atlantic Club in Bulgaria and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Bulgaria hosted the seminar “EU-North Korea Relations and the Path Forward” which was held on November 27, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. in Hyatt Hotel.

The seminar focused on the acute human rights situation in North Korea. It also delved into the EU’s strategic response and prospective policies concerning the delicate interplay with North Korea, amidst concerns over cybersecurity and weapons nonproliferation between Russia and North Korea. The session also had the honour to hear the account of a North Korean defector, providing the human point of view of the situation.

Solomon Passy, Andrey Kovachev and N. Ambassador of South Korea to Bulgaria Jongin Bae opened the discussion to address the pressing issues related to human rights violations and the humanitarian situation in Korea. The discussions shed light on the critical need for global attention and a common European approach and action.

In an emotional speech, we had the honour to witness the inspiring journey of Kang Chun-hyeok, a North Korean defector turned artist and rapper. His harrowing experiences – from his father’s imprisonment to escaping starvation and finding freedom – were shared with the audience. The result of live painting with him and Dr. Passy was a powerful image of a family in chains, symbolizing the depth of terror exercised by the regime.

The second panel delved into the complex realm of geopolitics, looking at EU policy towards North Korea and future directions in the face of Russia. Thorsten Geissler explained North Korea’s military power, drawing a comparison with South Korea.

2022

April

While Europe and its allies from across the Atlantic have been facing unprecedented new security challenges, the EU integration of the Western Balkans has become an imminent imperative in view of securing Europe’s safe and prosperous future. Building stable connectivity among Western Balkan countries in critical areas such as infrastructure, technology, digitalization, and overall security is the path to handling inevitable emergencies and developing resilience to emerging risks and threats.Therefore, the European Liberal Forum supported by the ALDE Party and the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria hosted “The EU Meets the Balkans” forum in Sofia, which will bring together a number of high-level speakers, that will debate on the regional cooperation and EU integration in a series of four panels. The event also focused on the situation in Ukraine.The welcoming speakers included: Daniel Kaddik, Executive Director of the European Liberal Forum, ELF; Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Member of the European Parlament, Co-President of ALDE Party; Dr. Solomon Passy, President of the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, followed by a keynote address from: Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of NATO; Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament; Teodora Genchovska, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria; Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of UkraineTheir introduction was followed by а conversation on the costs of the non-integration between Federica Mogherini, Rector Collage of Europe and HR/VP of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (2014-2019) and the EU Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi.On the contrary view, the first panel focused on the benefits of the integration, where Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Turkey, Republic North Macedonia, Republic of Albania, Republic of Kosovo and Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina took part.Further discussion tackled the issue of NATO and EU cooperation in scenerios of prosperity and war. The panel hosted Sir Stuart Peach, UK Special Envoy to the Western Balkans and other high-level guests.
May
- The War in Ukraine demonstrated that the relevance of NATO is as high as never before in past decades. We need bold decisions to be implemented with no delay in order to guarantee the common security and political stability of all Allies of the Alliance.On May 11, 2022, the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria together with the Embassy of Spain in Sofia, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung – Sofia, The United States Embassy in Sofia and NATO Public Diplomacy Division hosted the conference “NATO after Madrid: The Ukraine Lesson”.

June

Recent events have reaffirmed Russia’s long-standing policy of taking political advantage of Europe’s overdependence on Russian gas and oil supplies. Today, the continent is experiencing energy turmoil, with natural gas prices rising to levels five times higher than a year ago. It has become painfully clear that energy independence is as important to national and European security as military defence.In June, the Atlantic Club in Bulgaria, with the support of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria and the American University in Bulgaria, hosted “Energy Dissected 2.0”, the second edition of the high-level conference in Sofia, which brought together representatives from the parliament and the government, energy analysts from Bulgaria, EU, Russia, and USA, as well as industry experts who shared their views on the historic turning point in Europe’s energy policy.

July

On July 6 (Wednesday), the presentation of Prof. Vittorio Emanuele Parsi’s new book “The Wrecking of the Liberal Work Order” took place at the Residence of the Italian Ambassador to Bulgaria. The piece claims that the LWO order was hijacked in the 1980s and deviated from its original path. With democratic forces eclipsed by market forces, the book argues for a revival of the original intellectual premises of the post-World War II project.The event was accompanied by several interactive discussions on key topics such as NATO and the Madrid Summit, the security challenges of the European Union, Ukraine and the security of the Black Sea.

September

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and twenty educational and non-governmental organizations organized the second consecutive edition of “Hello, Space!” Bulgaria Calling!” STEAM & SPACE Festival. It took place on September 13, 2022, in Sofia Tech Park, with the substantial support of the US Embassy Sofia and NASA (Houston). The aim of this festival, building on the first edition, was to ignite the imagination of the youth to think, dream and plan big, pursue STEAM careers and find solutions through science.
This year the motto of the festival was to “fly even higher, dive even deeper and climb new peaks to inspire Bulgarian children to dream”. The main attractions of the festival were a live connection with the first astronaut mother from NASA – Anna Fisher, a virtual walk around CERN (Geneva), as well as a demonstration flight over the sky of Sofia Tech Park by the world record holder – Nikolay Kalaydzhiev. There was a special participation by Associate Professor Lachezar Georgiev, Director of the Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Scientific Team of the Central Committee QUASAR and representative of Bulgaria on the board of the European initiative EuroQCI (European Quantum Communication Infrastructure). He presented his project on quantum communication, which is based on the principles of quantum physics and uses the polarization of light quanta. Another important participant was Petko Dinev, founder of Imperx, the company that produced 14 aerospace imaging cameras onboard NASA’s Artemis 1 rocket. There were also lectures by specialists, various workshops and stands for children and youth, including an entertaining evening program.Approximately 360.000 Sofia Metro passengers daily watched the advertisement for two weeks before the event. During the Downlink-Day there were about 1500 visitors, more than 2000 viewers online from countries in Europe, North America, and Asia, and about 1.000.000 viewers on the four main national TV Channels (according to GARP Methodology).

November

Public speech of H.E. Ambassador Herro Mustafa addressed the strategic potential of US – Bulgarian relations as well as the White House meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Borissov.This event continued the three-decades old tradition of new US ambassadors to Bulgaria inaugurating their mandate with public remarks at the Atlantic Club

December

The Powers Summit is an innovative platform for constructive, operational, face-to-face dialogue between power, business leaders, science and the civil sector.The “Bulgarian Davos” aims to invest the collective intelligence of the country in creating sustainable solutions for the future of Bulgaria.On December 20, 2022, in Sofia Tech Park, the Powers Summit gathered the leaders of all political formations and their teams to seek solutions in real time on the leading topics in dialogue with business, the civil sector and science.

Main topics of Powers Summit 2022 were health care, energy, recovery and resilience plan, entrepreneurship, sustainable development. DNA was once again a partner in the organization of the event.

2021

January

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria held a virtual conversation on the rule of law in Bulgaria on 28th of January with the U.S. Embassy’s Resident Legal Advisor Ms. Jessica Kim. The name of the event was: “U.S. – Bulgaria Dialogues: A conversation on the rule of law with U.S. Embassy’s Resident Legal Advisor Ms. Jessica Kim”. She was interviewed by the Vice-President of the Atlantic Club Ambassador Elena Poptodorova.
April
- The Global Britain: UK Priorities in a Changing World even was a discussion, organized by the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the British Embassy in Sofia and presented the UK’s Integrated Security, Defense, Development and Foreign Policy Review which was published in March 2021.
  The focus was put on a cross-border perspective and a readiness to participate in planetary challenges. An emphasis was put on transparency as a source of prosperity, a clearer position on security and sustainable development, renewed commitments to the country’s role as a positive force and determination to seek common solutions to the Earth’s problems as well.
  The main guests of the event were Dr. Solomon Passy, President of the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and Dr. Rob Dixon, Ambassador of the United Kingdom in Sofia.

May

The Virtual Conference “Ahead of the Future: Preparing for NATO 2030” marked the 30th anniversary of the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria. Remaining true for 30 years now to our slogan “Ahead of the Future”, the ACB continues to engage in charting and analyzing predictable or unforeseen prospects for NATO – until 2030 and in the next 30 years in a fast-changing world. The event used recent history and experience as a reference point to suggest solutions to emerging threats or unanticipated risks that could take the democratic world by surprise as has happened a number of times in the past.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Bulgaria co-organized the virtual conference “Sofia Three Seas Initiative Summit: The Road Ahead”. In 2021 Bulgaria hosts the Three Seas Initiative, taking on from Estonia the coordination process. The distinguished speakers at the event discussed the priorities of the Sofia Summit and Business Forum 2021, the development of infrastructure in energy and digital sectors, and gave an update on the 3SI Investment Fund.

July

For the first time in history Bulgarian students had the chance to ask questions to the astronauts aboard the International Space Station during a Downlink that took place on July 26, 2021.The initiative “Hello Space! Bulgaria calling” by the STEM & Space Cluster coordinated by the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, with the support of NASA, the U.S. Embassy Sofia and the Ministry of Education and Science, included a one-day STEM Forum at Sofia Tech Park, nation-wide competition for students and a live chat with two astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) – Mark Vande Hei (NASA) and Thomas Pesquet (ESA).The STEM & Space Cluster, consisting of 25+ top Bulgarian academic institutions, specializing in STEM and space research, as well as NGOs, coordinated by the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, was a partner of the US Embassy in Sofia and NASA as a host of the LIVE video chat with the astronauts aboard the ISS.The aim of the project was to ignite the imagination of the youth to think big, to start dreaming and planning to reach the Moon, Mars and beyond. The Cluster aimed to expose students and teachers to STEM careers through direct and virtual experiences with the work of NASA, as well as to inspire and provide them with all the necessary resources to pursue such careers.
Building on Bulgaria’s glorious past in space – as the sixth country in the world to launch a person in space and the third country to produce space food – we sought to improve US-BG cooperation in aeronautics and STEM education, as well as to send a third Bulgarian astronaut with NASA/SpaceX into space.

Bulgaria was the second EU country that had the privilege to host a direct video conference with the International Space Station, organized with the leading role of NASA, Huston, and the first with the active participation of pupils. The pre-recorded questions for the astronauts, as well as the young participants, were selected through a rigorous selection process that took place in the beginning of July. More than 100 (one hundred) questions asked by Bulgarian kids and students in Bulgaria and abroad were received for evaluation by the special jury of the STEM & Space Cluster, which approved 30 of them. The final selection of 18 questions to be asked during the Downlink was completed by NASA.

According to H.E. Herro Mustafa, Ambassador of the USA to Bulgaria “The Downlink 101 to the International Space Station is a historic event, as it is the first of its kind in Europe”.

Approximately 360.000 Sofia Metro passengers daily watched the Downlink 101 advertisement for a whole month before the event. During the Downlink-Day there were about 1200 visitors, 11.000 viewers online and 972.000 viewers on the four main national TV Channels (according to GARP Methodology). A month after the event the Downlink video had been watched by nearly 3 million viewers online.

Apart from the Downlink itself, the “Hello Space! Bulgaria calling” one-day scientific fest included 45 educational activities and more than 50 community partners took part in the event.

November

Facing high energy prices and meeting the low-carbon targets of the EU Green Deal are challenging Bulgaria’s and EU’s governments as well as fueling economic uncertainty in pandemic times.Those were among the key topics discussed by energy experts, academia, and energy business representatives at the hybrid discussion „Energy Dissected – experts on the floor”, organized by the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and American University in Bulgaria (AUBG) on Friday, November 12, 2021 online and in-person at Elieff Center for Education and Culture (upon presenting a Green Certificate).The event featured high-level energy analysts and experts like Amb. Richard Morningstar, Founding Chairman, Global Energy Center, Atlantic Council of US (ACUS); Assoc. Prof. Ognian Minchev, Executive Director of the Institute for Regional and International Studies; Amb. Ilian Vasilev, Chairman of the Board, Alternatives & Analyses NGO; Assoc. Prof. Atanas Georgiev, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Sofia University; Slavtcho Neykov, President of the Energy Institute; Assoc. Prof. Mark Leonard, Department of Economic, AUBG; Martin Vladimirov, Director „Energy and Climate Programme, Center for Study of Democracy, Julian Popov, Founding Board Member of the Institute of Sustainable Transition and Development.

December

Powers Summit is an innovative platform for an in person and constructive dialogue between policy-makers and the business, organized by the Webit Foundation and the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.“ The Bulgarian Davos” aims at investing public smart ideas to the creation of sustainable solutions for Bulgaria’s future. In 2021 (14 December in Sofia Tech Park) Powers Summit gathered leaders of all political formations and their teams with business, civil society and academia to find real time solutions for the key challenges Bulgaria is facing.

2020

May

The virtual discussion ‘Solidarity in Crisis: The Bridge to Bliss”, orchestrated by the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, brought together participants spanning 14 time zones, encompassing countries across three continents. The discourse featured eminent figures such as Eric Weiner, the renowned author of “Geography of Bliss”; Thorsten Geissler, Head of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung in Bulgaria; Ko Wen-je, Mayor of Taipei, Taiwan; Hans van Baalen from ALDE; Dr. Itai Pessach of Israel; Chun Beeho, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Bulgaria; Chang-Hui Shen from the College of Staten Island, CUNY; Prof. Harsh V. Pant from the Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi; Dr. Milena Georgieva, a member of NATO SPS MYP G5266; Entrepreneur Dr. Yossi Vardi from Israel; and Marina Kaizer of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.

September

Almost 20 years after the September 11 terrorist attacks, it is time to commemorate the victims of these horrific acts, but also to reflect on the changing security environment. During the virtual discussion “9/11: Two Decades Later. NATO Youth Ambassadors Talk with Daniel Fried”, questions such as how to predict and prevent such attacks on NATO ally territory, is it possible to be one step ahead of terrorists or other aggressors in cyber space and prevent a future digital 11/9 and what have we learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and are we ready to be resilient against biological weapons were posed.
Together with the Digitial National Alliance, the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria held “Sofia CyberSec2020” conference, which combined the physical presence on the open stage and the live video connection with a limited number of experts in the field of security, business and institutions, and the participation of foreign speakers. The main topics for discussions were the current cyber threats to NATO member states and partners.

October

The virtual energy seminar “The Green Deal: The pathway for Republic of Korea and Republic of Bulgaria towards a low-carbon and green economy” brought together players from both countries – politicians, representative of regulatory bodies, business, energy experts, scientists and environmentalists – in order to exchange ideas, technological progress and required actions to reach carbon neutrality in the upcoming decades. In both – the Republic of Korea and Bulgaria – a fair transition is to be ensured for those regions that foresee difficulties in coming from a reduced use of coal power by supporting their adjustment to the renewable energy sector and hydrogen application.

December

The virtual event “Building-up disinformation resilience: Is there any anti-fake news vaccine?”, organized by the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and Dr. Preslav Nakov, shared insights from a study on over 10,000 COVID-19-related social media posts. Bringing together experts from various fields, the discussion focused on effective measures for countries to combat fake news and enhance societal resilience against misinformation. Speakers included Dr. Solomon Passy, Dr. Preslav Nakov, Prof. Dr. Nikolay Gabrovski, Prof. Radostina Alexandrova, Assoc. Prof. Milena Georgieva, Assoc. Prof. Mihail Okoliyski, Elena Poptodorova, Ekaterina Dimitrova, Dr. Neville Bolt, Kaloyan Konstantinov, and Martin Dimitrov. The event aimed to address the critical role of reliable information in public health and international security.

2019

April

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria hosted the international conference titled “NATO@70: 10 Years Ahead and 15 Years Bulgaria in NATO,” commemorating the 70th anniversary of NATO and the 15th anniversary of Bulgaria’s accession to the Alliance. Held in Sofia, the event brought together politicians, experts, diplomats, and representatives from the Bulgarian Armed Forces. Distinguished speakers included Ekaterina Zaharieva, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Atanas Zapryanov, Deputy Minister of Defence; Peter Stoyanov, President of Bulgaria (1997 – 2002); Dr. Antonio Missiroli, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges; Fabrizio Luciolli, President of the Atlantic Treaty Association; and H.E. Eric Rubin, Ambassador of the United States in Bulgaria. Additionally, Tacan Ildem, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy, addressed the conference through a video message.

June

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria hosted a farewell garden party for Ambassador Eric Rubin and Nicole Simmons. More than 100 guests attended the event, among them Krasimir Karakachanov, Minister of Defense; Nikolina Angelkova, Minister of Tourism; representatives of Bulgarian business, European and local institutions, non-governmental organizations, and technology.

June

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria hosted the international conference titled “NATO@70: 10 Years Ahead and 15 Years Bulgaria in NATO,” commemorating the 70th anniversary of NATO and the 15th anniversary of Bulgaria’s accession to the Alliance. Held in Sofia, the event brought together politicians, experts, diplomats, and representatives from the Bulgarian Armed Forces. Distinguished speakers included Ekaterina Zaharieva, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Atanas Zapryanov, Deputy Minister of Defence; Peter Stoyanov, President of Bulgaria (1997 – 2002); Dr. Antonio Missiroli, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges; Fabrizio Luciolli, President of the Atlantic Treaty Association; and H.E. Eric Rubin, Ambassador of the United States in Bulgaria. Additionally, Tacan Ildem, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy, addressed the conference through a video message.

June

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria hosted a farewell garden party for Ambassador Eric Rubin and Nicole Simmons. More than 100 guests attended the event, among them Krasimir Karakachanov, Minister of Defense; Nikolina Angelkova, Minister of Tourism; representatives of Bulgarian business, European and local institutions, non-governmental organizations, and technology companies.

November

Public speech of H.E. Ambassador Herro Mustafa addressed the strategic potential of US – Bulgarian relations as well as the White House meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Borissov. This event continued the three-decades old tradition of new US ambassadors to Bulgaria inaugurating their mandate with public remarks at the Atlantic Club

2018

May

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria host Ambassador Philip Reeker, Deputy to the Commander of US European Command – EUCOM. The event takes place on 4 May 2018, at 10:00 a.m., at Hall 8 of the National Palace of Culture, Sofia. In the turbulent post-BREXIT times in EUROPE, the cohesiveness of the West is on trial and the Trans-Atlantic bond needs to be reinforced. The two visits & discussions on May 4th are part of the on-going campaign WE ARE NATO, which embraces all member–states.

June

ACB’s youth organization – the Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Youth Club, supported by NATO, organizes a NATO Summer School in the period 3 – 9 June 2018, in Smolyan, Bulgaria, on the topic NATO: Strengthening Transatlantic Dialog and Cooperation in 2018. The international seminar focuses on addressing NATO’s top priority actions for dealing with the challenges in the changing international environment.

October

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Atlantic Council of Serbia and with the support of the NATO Science for Peace Program, organizes an international seminar Fundamental Readiness for Cyber Defense in the Balkans (FRCDB). The project involves the participation of many politicians, diplomats and experts from more than 10 countries, international organizations (OSCE, OECD), as well as NGOs in the area of the cyber security. The main goal of the project is to facilitate the importance of regional and international cooperation among the participants within the NATO and partner countries in the SEE region. The workshop enhances an essential component in building fundamental readiness for resilience to cyber threats and cyber terrorism, by sifting the cyber defense capabilities in the Balkan region. The event focuses on five main priorities: cyber defense situational awareness, critical information infrastructure protection, cyber security capacity, culture and policies building and sharing the best practices through presenting new technology by the cyber security local and international industry.The seminar takes place in the period 17 – 19 October, in Belgrade, Serbia.

November

On November, 9th, 2018, at 10:00, at Hall 6 of the National Palace of Culture, the largest conference on fake news gathers in one place journalists, representatives of European and local institutions, non-governmental organizations, and technology companies. The Fake News of True Trolls conference is organized by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and Digital National Alliance, with the support of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the EU Parliament, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, the Atlantic Treaty Association, the Diplomatic Institute to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria and the Embassy of France in Bulgaria. The conference focuses on disinformation, fake news and international security, the challenges journalists face in the present-day media landscape and the role of social media users in spreading misleading information. Among the speakers are the Vice-President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Iliana Iotova, the Minister for the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council, Lilyana Pavlova, the EU Commissioner Mariya Gabriel and many other distinguished experts.

2017

June

ACB’s youth organization – the Bulgarian Euro Atlantic Youth Club, supported by NATO, organizes a NATO Summer School in the period June 4th – June 10th, 2017, in Smolyan, Bulgaria, on NATO Challenges and Concerns on the Eve of the 2017 Summit. The seminar focuses on addressing NATO’s priority actions necessary for the Alliance’s adaptation to the new security environment.

July

Atlantic Discussions, organized by the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria. In the first part, there is a discussion with the Prime Minister of Bulgaria H.E. Boyko Borissov, on the topic The Transatlantic Partnership from the Perspective of Bulgaria’s EU Presidency. Prime Minister Borissov highlights the strategic priorities of Bulgaria in view of the transatlantic relations and the forthcoming Bulgarian EU Presidency. This is the first large-scale discussion on this topic with the Bulgarian Prime Minister. In the second part, there is a public lecture by H.E. Eric Rubin, US Ambassador to Bulgaria, on the topic S. – Bulgarian Partnership: The Way Ahead. H.E. Eric Rubin discusses the partnership between the USA and Bulgaria and how it could be strengthened. This is the first public event with the participation of Ambassador Rubin after the election of the then Parliament and Government of Bulgaria. The event is the first discussion with Bulgaria and the USA on the new scale of Euro-Atlantic solidarity in the context of EU’s response to Brexit. The discussion is moderated by Dr. Solomon Passy – President of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria. The event takes place from 09:30 – 12:00, at the Central Military Club, Sofia, Grand Concert Hall.

September

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, supported by NATO, organizes an international conference, titled NATO strategy for Security in the Black Sea Region, which takes place from 28 – 29 September 2017, in Varna. The event aims to highlight the importance of the security issue in the Black Sea Region, by bringing together members of government, the NGO sector, international experts, academic representatives and media. It focuses on raising public awareness about the Black Sea security.

October

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the Bulgarian National Council for Cooperation on Ethnic and Integration Issues and the Federation of Zionists in Bulgaria organize a lecture of the CEO of the American Jewish Committee, David Harris. The topic of the lecture is S. Foreign Policy in the New Era: An American Jewish Perspective. The speech of David Harris is followed by a Q&A session. The event takes place on 16 October 2017, at the Grand Concert Hall of the Central Military Club, in Sofia, at 18:00.
A discussion on the topic Together in Security. Bulgaria in the Common European Defense. The discussion is initiated by the President of the Party of European Socialists Sergey Stanishev, and organized by the Academy of Leftist European Policies, The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the Institute for Rightwing Policy, PanEuropa Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Defense Industry Association, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation – Office in Bulgaria, the Sofia Security Forum, the Center for Defense and Security Research and the Center for Defense Policy Studies. The discussion is held on 16 October 2017, at 10.30 a.m., at the Central Military Club, Concert Hall, Sofia.

2016

January

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by H.E. Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, with the main topic being The European Union and the Challenges Ahead. His speech is followed by a Q/A session. The event takes place on 21 January 2016, at 16:00, at the Central Military Club, in Sofia.

April

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by H.E. Eric Rubin, Ambassador of the USA to Bulgaria, with the main topic being Bulgaria and America: Allies and Partners. His speech is followed by a Q/A session. US Ambassador to Sofia H.E. Eric Rubin, decides to continue the 20-plus-year tradition established between the US Embassy in Sofia and The Atlantic Club and delivers an introductory public lecture after his inauguration before the audience of The Atlantic Club in Bulgaria. The lecture of Ambassador Rubin takes place on 7 April 2016, at 11:00, at the Sofia Hotel Balkan, and coincides with the 25th anniversary of the foundation of ACB.

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, in cooperation with the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy – Berlin, and with the special support of NATO, organize an international conference with a main topic Current Security Challenges in the Black Sea Region. Keynote speakers of the event are H.E. Alexander Vershbow, Deputy Secretary General of NATO, Amb. Valentin Poryazov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, and Georgi Pirinski, MEP, S&D Group. The event takes place on 22 April 2016, at the Central Military Club, Sofia.

May

ACB’s youth organization – the Bulgarian Euro Atlantic Youth Club, supported by NATO, organizes a NATO Summer School, in the period 30 May – 5 June 2016, in Smolyan, Bulgaria, on the topic NATO Challenges and Concerns on the Eve of the 2016 Summit. The international seminar focuses on NATO’s priority actions directed at the Alliance’s adaptation to the new security environment. Key topics are the current challenges in the Black Sea region, preparing for threats in emergent spaces, including cyber space and maritime security, smart defence and planning for the future in times of austerity, NATO’s role as a global security actor, NATO-Russia relations, women’s role in peace and security, the war against terrorism, and NATO transparency and reforms. The seminar creates a forum where young people with different nationalities and backgrounds have the opportunity to meet with representatives of NGOs, government, experts and to discuss and exchange ideas about NATO’s current and future role in the ongoing international threats and challenges. Besides attending a number of intriguing lectures, the participants are welcomed to take part in fun social activities.

June

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia organize a lecture by H.E. Dr. Milan Brglez, President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia, on the topic Refugee and Migrant Crisis: Slovenia’s Experience and the Difference of Opinions in the European Union. The event takes place on 9 June 2016, at 16:00, at the Central Military Club, Sofia.

July

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Embassy of the United States in Sofia organize a conversation with Deborah Lee James, U.S. Secretary of the Air Force, on the topic Transatlantic Relations – The Role of Airpower in Global Security. The event takes place on 13 July 2016 (Wednesday), at 17:00, at the Central Military Club, Sofia.
Shortly after the NATO Warsaw Summit that took place from 8 – 9 2016, The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the American-Bulgarian Alimni Association, the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation organize a public discussion on the topic The Aftermath of the NATO Warsaw Summit. Keynote speakers at the event are the Minsiter of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria Daniel Mitov, Deputy Minister of Defence Atanas Zapryanov, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Bulgaria Krzysztof Krajewski and Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to Bulgaria H.E. Marian Jakubocy. The discussion is moderated by Dr. Solomon Passy, President of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria. It takes place on 14 July 2016, at the Central Military Club, Sofia.

September

On 13 September 2016, H.E. Xavier Lapeyre De Cabanes, Ambassador of the French Republic, makes his valedictory speech in Bulgaria, on the topic Mission Accomplished: My Hopes for Bulgaria. The event is held at the Sofia Hotel Balkan and is organized by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria. The President of The Atlantic Club, Dr. Solomon Passy, calls it the “Apple Speech”, because of the comments of H.E. De Cabanes that there are “rotten apples” in the Bulgarian judicial system.

October

Professor Paul Sracic, Chair of the Department of Politics and International Relations in Youngstale University in Ohio, is a guest of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria on October 14, 2016, within a public discussion on the US Presidential Election in 2016, taking place at the American Corner, in Sofia.

November

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, with the support of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria, organizes a public lecture by Major General Tsanko Stoykov, Commander of the Bulgarian Air Force, on the topic The Future of Bulgarian Air Force within the National and Allied Defence. The event takes place on 30 November 2016, at 11:00 a.m., at the Central Military Club, Sofia.

December

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Armed Forces Women Association and the Montenegrin American Youth Alumni Association, with the support of the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme, organize an advanced workshop titled Women Building Peace: What They Do, Why It Matters – Resolution 1325, which takes place in the period 13 – 15 December 2016, in Podgorica, Montenegro.

2015

March

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by the Executive Director of the American Jewish Committee David Harris, in order to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his first lecture before the Bulgarian audience, also organized by the ACB, in 1995. David Harris shares the viewpoint of the Jewish community in the US on a number of key international issues in Europe and the Middle East, and their impact on the world. His speech is followed by a Q&A session. The event takes place on 9 March 2015, at the Central Military Club, in Sofia, at 17:30.
ACB’s youth organization – the Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Youth Club, and the Macedonian Research Centre for Security Defence and Peace, with the support of the NATO Science for Peace and Security programme, organize an international advanced research workshop on the topic Encouraging Cyber Defence Awareness in the Balkans. The purpose of the workshop is to enrich the experience and competence of the participants in the field of cyber-defence and security on the Balkans, as they are viewed from the perspective of NATO. The event takes place from 17 – 19 March 2015, at the Bushi Resort & SPA Hotel, in Skopje, the Republic of Macedonia.

April

The US-Bulgarian Alumni Association, in cooperation with The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, organizes the public discussion Generation Bridge – Networking Briefing. The main purpose of the event is to bring together young people and business organizations, to narrow the gap between business and education in Bulgaria. Students with different majors by most universities in the country have the opportunity to meet and get acquainted with companies from different fields, recruiting interns and offering vacancies. The event takes place on 27 April 2015, 18:00, at the American Corner in Sofia.

May

The US-Bulgarian Alumni Association, in cooperation with The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, organizes a public discussion on the topic Advancing American Values in Europe: Success and Challenges. The lecturers Professor Michael Hannahan, Ph.D., Director of the University of Massachusetts Civic Initiative, Ms. Daniela Bojikova from the US-Bulgarian Alumni Association, and Mr. Kevin Aspegren, President of the American University in Bulgaria, share advice, know-how, and techniques adopted through American-Bulgarian partnership and education. The young participants in the event have the opportunity to exchange views and get acquainted with the best American practices and values and their realization on European soil. The event takes place on 7 May 2015, at 18:00, at the American Corner, Sofia.

June

The Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Youth Club, with the support of the NATO Public Diplomacy Division, organizes for a second consecutive year a NATO Summer School in Bulgaria. The event is on the topic NATO after the 2014 Summit: New Challenges and Concerns” and takes place in the period 30 May – 7 June 2015, in Smolyan, Bulgaria.

September

The National Museum of Military History and The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organize a donation ceremony, to mark the 25th Anniversary of the organized Pro-Atlantic Movement in New Europe, conceived in the Bulgarian Parliament in 1990. The Bulgarian automobile is first shown in 1991 by CNN, when it was used for “kidnapping” the then NATO Secretary-General Manfred Woerner. Later, some of the most remarkable modern celebrities peacefully ride in it, and it even receives the blessing of Pope John Paul II, in 2002, as a symbol of the Euro-Atlantic orientation of Bulgaria. In 2015, the automobile is officially donated by its owner, Dr. Solomon Passy, to the National Museum of Military History (NMMH). The cardboard vehicle, a defining feature of the Communist reality before 1989, later turned into a symbol of the striving of the Bulgarian Atlanticists for unity with the West, becomes part of the exposition of the National Museum of Military History – the first museum in the country to represent the Bulgarian path towards NATO. A special guest to the event is H.E. Roderick Moore, chargé d’affaires of the US Embassy in Sofia. In 1990, he becomes a godfather and later an Honourable Director of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria – the only national pro-Atlantic organization ever operating on the territory of the Warsaw Pact. The ceremony takes place on 16 September 2015, at NMMH, at 11:00 a.m.

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and The Bilateral Chamber of Commerce Bulgaria-Romania organize a public lecture by H.E. Sorin Ducaru, Assistant Secretary-General of NATO for Emerging Security Challenges, with the main topic being Rising Challenges in the Modern World. Sorin Ducaru discusses the appearance of new threats to the Atlantic security and their consequences. His speech is followed by a Q/A session. The event takes place on 25 September 2015, at the Sofia Hotel Balkan, at 14:00.

October

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by H.E. Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, President of the Republic of Macedonia, with the main topic being Macedonia in NATO: Expectations for the Warsaw NATO Summit. His speech is followed by a Q/A session. The event takes place on 7 October 2015, at 14:00, at the European Commission’s Representation in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by H.E. Laura Thompson, Deputy Director General of the International Organization for Migration, with the main topic being Current Migration Trends. Her speech is followed by a Q/A session. The event takes place on 20 October 2015, at 14:30, at the Sofia Hotel Balkan.

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and The Bulgarian Armed Forces Women Association, with the special support of NATO, organize an international conference, with the main topic being Women, Peace and Security: What They Do, Why It Matters, on the occasion of the 15th Anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325. The event takes place from 27 – 28 October 2015, at 09:30 a.m., at the Central Military Club in Sofia.

November

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by H.E. Franco Frattini, Foreign Minister of Italy (2002 – 2004; 2008 – 2011), Vice-President of the European Commission (2004 – 2008) for Justice, Freedom and Security, and President of the Italian Society for International Organization. The main topic is Refugees, Migration, Europe: 2015 – 2030. The speech of H.E Franco Frattini is followed by a Q/A session. The event takes place on 18 November 2015, at 11:00 a.m., at the Central Military Club, in Sofia.

December

UNESCO and The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organize an international conference with the main topic being Countering Violent Extremism: New Security Agenda for Education and Culture. The perspectives for building a global coalition for the protection of cultural heritage and diversity, as well as the role of education in preventing violent extremism, are discussed during the event. The conference takes place on 16 December 2015, at 13:30, at the Sofia Hotel Balkan.

2014

January

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and PanEuropa Bulgaria, with the support of the European Commission, organize a conference, titled Prosperity = Science + Youth, with the special participation of Prof. Anne Glover – Chief Scientific Adviser to the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso. The event aims to establish a discussion regarding the Bulgarian contribution to European science, as well as the development of the European scientific policies. Other topics that are discussed during the event emphasize the future perspectives for stimulating young researchers, including education and scientific exchange as a means for fighting youth unemployment. The event takes place on 28 January 2014 at 9:00 a.m. at the Sheraton Hotel, Sofia.

April

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the Diplomatic Institute to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria and G. S. Rakovski National Defence Academy, with the special support of NATO, organize a conference titled Future NATO on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of Bulgaria’s accession to the Alliance. The event aims to establish a discussion regarding the challenges and perspectives before NATO’s open-door policy, responsibility sharing and capacity building within the framework of the transatlantic link, the mission of NATO in Afghanistan after 2014, as well as the role of Bulgaria in the Alliance in the past ten years. The conference takes place on 3 – 4 April 2014 at 9:30 a. m., at the Central Military Club, Sofia.

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Sofia and the Diplomatic Institute to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria organize a public lecture of the Turkish Ambassador in Bulgaria, H.E. Süleyman Gökçe. In his speech, Ambassador Gökçe presents the development of partnership relations between Turkey and Bulgaria in the areas of politics, defence, economics, trade, energetics and culture. The Turkish Ambassador payed special attention to the contribution of both NATO members to safeguarding peace and stability on the Balkans and in the Black Sea region. The event takes place on 16 April 2014, at 11:00 a. m., at the Sheraton Hotel, Sofia.

June

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public exhibition on the NATO Ballistic Missile Defence. The exhibition is part of the national plan to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the accession of Bulgaria to NATO. The topic of the exhibition is related to the protection of Europe. In 2010, after the NATO Lisbon Summit, the Alliance decides to initiate the development of a missile defense to fulfil its primary purpose – the defence of Europe. During the Summit in Chicago in 2012, the Heads of State and Prime Ministers of NATO Member States announce the potential for missile defense application. The exhibition is opened on June 24, 2014, at the Central Military Club, in Sofia, and continues until July 9, 2014.

September

On 18 September 2014, a public lecture by the Ambassador of Hungary to Bulgaria H.E. András Klein takes place at the Plenary Hall of the Varna Municipality Building, at 16:00. During the lecture, the Ambassador shares his view on the “South Stream” project. According to him, there is much confusion and chaos concerning energy policy, which impedes cooperation. His lecture enjoyes great interest and is the first of a series of meetings on the Future of Bulgaria project, implemented jointly by the Municipality of Varna, The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and Future Workshop Bulgaria. The diplomat says that there is an increase in the number of Hungarian tourists in the country and calls for greater cooperation at the institutional level – in the fields of education, science and culture.

October

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the British Embassy to Bulgaria, Future Workshop Bulgaria and Varna Municipality organize a public lecture by the Ambassador of Great Britain in Bulgaria H.E. Jonathan Allen, on the topic Future Development of Relationships of Bulgaria with the United Kingdom. In his speech, Ambassador Allen presents the development of partnership relations between Bulgaria and the United Kingdom in the fields of politics, economy, trade, education and culture. The event is held on 7 October 2014 at 05:00 p.m. at the Varna Municipality building.
On 16, 20, 22, and 29 October and on 3 November 2014, The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes 5 discussions in different parts of Bulgaria, on the topics of freedom and democracy. The discussions are part of the initiative for commemorating the 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall and are held under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rosen Plevneliev. With these events the Club strives to make one more step towards restoring confidence in the Bulgarian society, which had rarely been so polarized, with the political debate being devoid of strategic perspective and basis for national consensus. The events are supported by the Sofia Platform and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom.
Concerned by the continuing crisis in Ukraine, The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with Mr. Ian Kearns from the European Leadership Network (ELN), Mr. Jim Collins from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Mr. Wolfgang Ischinger, Munich Security Conference (MS.C), and Mr. Igor Ivanov, Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), establish an initiative for younger generation representatives from Ukraine, Russia, Europe and the United States, to engage in a dialogue on a broad spectrum of issues regarding the future of Ukraine as a short-term objective, and the future of Euro-Atlantic security as a long-term goal. The event is titled First Meeting of the Younger Generation Task Force for Ukraine and Euro-Atlantic Security and takes place in Sofia, from 28 – 29 October 2014. The participants are from Russia, Ukraine, the US, the UK, Latvia, Turkey, France, Germany and Poland. The schedule of the event features a one-and-a-half-day workshop devoted to the worsening international crisis in Ukraine.

In view of the aspirations of the Bulgarian statesmen after joining the EU and NATO, for Bulgaria to become a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria takes the initiative to support this idea. Dr. Salvatore Zecchini, Chairman of the Working Group “Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Entrepreneurship” in the OECD, deliveres a lecture to the members and guests of The Atlantic Club. The public lecture, called OECD: Added Value to the EU, takes place at the Central Military Club, in Sofia, on October 29, 2014, at 09:30 a.m.

November

Gen. Philip Breedlove, Supreme Allied Commander Europe & Commander of US European Command, speaks at The Atlantic Club on November 12, Wednesday, at 11:00 am, at the Central Military Club, in Sofia, as part of his visit to Bulgaria. Gen. Breedlove speaks on the topic of NATO After the Wales Summit, following which there is a Q&A session. The background of Russian-Ukrainian tension, ISIS in the Middle East, increasing cyber threats for NATO Allies and the Ebola outbreak in Africa makes this visit of Gen. Breedlove to Bulgaria more than timely and topical and attracts the interest of major world news channels and broadcasters. This was the first visit to Bulgaria of this rank, only a few days after the new Bulgarian Government had sworn in.

The Ambassador of the French Republic to Bulgaria H.E. Xavier Lapeyre de Cabanes delivers a public lecture before The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria on the topic The European Future of the Balkans. His speech is followed by a Q&A session. The event takes place on November 19^th, 2014, at the French Institute in Bulgaria, at 11:00 a.m.

December

The US-American Alumni Association, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence, the Bulgarian Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications and the British Embassy in Sofia, with the support of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, organize an international conference on the topic Cyber Security – Threats and Challenges. Several important issues from the area of cyber defence are discussed during the event, such as stability and resilience of the domain name system, Bulgaria in a secure digital space, cyber challenges and solutions, and others. The conference takes place on December 1st, 2014, at the Central Military Club, in Sofia, at 13:00.

2013

January

On 30 January 2013, the American Ambassador to Bulgaria, H.E. Marcie B. Ries, gives her first public speech since the second inauguration of Obama. The event is organized by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the Embassy of the United States in Bulgaria and with the special support of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy. After a short introduction and welcoming statement from the host, Dr. Solomon Passy, the floor is given to Mrs. Ries.

April

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the team of the project Bulgaria and the Space Law – a Look into the Future”, the Fund for Scientific Research with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Science, and with the special support of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, organizes a public lecture on the topic of The Perspectives in Front of Space Cooperation and Dealing with Space Debris. The honorable speaker is Professor Stephen Freeland, who teaches International Law in the University of Western Sidney (UWS). The lecture takes place on 4 April 2013 in the building of the European Comission’s Representation in Bulgaria.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, organizes a keynote speech of H.E. Todor Tagarev, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria, on the topic Future Challenges ahead of Defence Policy. The event takes place on 4 April 2013 at the Central Military Club. The event is organized on the occasion of the 9th anniversary since Bulgaria joined NATO, the 22nd anniversary of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the 65th anniversary of NATO.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, hosts the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Bulgaria H.E. Jonathan Allen, who gives a public speech. Mr. Allen is the first ambassador to fully immerse into the Bulgarian culture and traditions – he had spent one year in office at the British Embassy.

June

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, hosts a lecture on the topic The Role of the National Assembly and the Restoration of Trust in the Constitution and Democracy. The special guest of the event is the Chairman of the 42th National Assembly Mihail Mikov. The event takes place on 20 June 2013 at the Sheraton Hotel, Sofia. Other participants are Regine Schubert from the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and Dr. Solomon Passy, President of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the Embassy of Palestine, the Embassy of Qatar and the Diplomatic Institute, host a keynote speech by Dr. Nabil Shaath, former Minister of Foreign Affairs (1994 – 2006) and Former Deputy Prime Minister (2005 – 2006) of the State of Palestine, titled The Palestine Cause and the Role of Europe. The event takes place at the Sheraton Hotel on 21 June 2013 at 11 a.m.

September

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria hosts a conference on the topic Diversification of the Energy Market. Why is it Important? The event aims to highlight the main challenges in front of the energy market and to consider alternative sources for energy diversification. It brings together state officials, as well as energy experts, who discuss the economic and political aspects for the future development of the energy sector. The event takes place on 19 September 2013 at 09:30 a.m., at the Sheraton Hotel, Sofia.

October

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in partnership with the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy and with the special support of NATO, organizes an international conference on the topic Women Building Peace: What They Do, Why It Matters.The event aims to establish a discussion regarding women`s role for peace building, security and defense. The conference brings together state officials, as well as experts in the specific area, in order to discuss the various aspects on the topic. The event takes place in the period of 9 – 10 October at the Representation of the European Commission in Sofia.

November

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, hosts a public discussion on the topic Georgia’s European Way: Expectations and Challenges. The discussion includes a keynote speech by the Foreign Minister of Georgia H.E. Maja Panjikidze, who emphasizes the most important guidelines and perspectives for Georgian membership in the EU. The Foreign Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria H.E. Kristian Vigenin also makes a special statement about the positive development of the bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Georgia. The event takes place on 25 November 2013 at 16:30, at the Sheraton Hotel, Sofia.

2012

January

A public lecture by the Dutch politician Mr. Frans Timmermans, titled The EU: Is Our Common Future Just History, is held with the support of the Netherlands Embassy in Sofia and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.
Public lecture by Professor Massimo de Leonardis, titled From the Wars Among States to the Conflicts in the XXI Century: A Historical Perspective. During his lecture, Mr. de Leonardis presents his newly published book, titled Ultima Ratio Regum. Military Power and International Relations. The event is supported by the Embassy of Italy to Bulgaria and the Italian Institute for Culture in Sofia.
Round table on the topic EU Policy for Guaranteeing the Rights of the Passengers Using Air Transport. Partner of the event is the Information Office of the European Parliament in Bulgaria. Special guest is Mrs. Antonia Parvanova, Member of the European Parliament.
An official presentation of the book Contemporary Issues for National and International Space Law is held with the participation of Prof. Alexander Yankov, Dr. Solomon Passy, Mr. Stanimir Ilchev, Mr. Krassimir Bojanov and Ms. Rada Popova. The book is part of a project launched two years before, regarding space law and its significance in Bulgarian science, education and politics.

March

Keynote speech by H.E. Philippe Autie, Ambassador of the Republic of France to Bulgaria, on the topic The Challenges Before the Eurozone. The event is held with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of France in Bulgaria, Cheque Dejeuner, Emporiki Bank, Renault Bulgaria and Visa.
Presentation of two books by H.E. Vaclav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic, organized with the Embassy of the Czech Republic and the Publishing Houses East-West and MaK, and with the support of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy. The titles of the books are Where Tomorrow Begins and The European Integration Without Illusions.
An inter-parliamentary debate, titled Ukrainian-Bulgarian Relations: 20 Years of Friendship, Trust and Partnership, is held on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Ukranian-Bulgarian diplomatic relations. The event is organized in cooperation with the Embassy of Ukraine in Bulgaria and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.

April

Public lecture by the Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, H.E. Bujar Bukoshi, titled Euro-Atlantic Orientation of Republic of Kosovo, is held with the support of the European Polytechnic University and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.
International conference, titled Strategic Energy Challenges: V4 and Bulgaria and Romania – Common Interests, Common Actions. The aim of the conference is to focus on the energy challenges today and to make a meaningful discussion on the actions that should be taken in order to have a more prosperous future. The event is attended by many distinguished figures, such as Mr. Delyan Dobrev, the new Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism of Bulgaria, Mr. Jiří Schneider, the first Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, which then holds the Presidency of the Visegrad Four, as well as representatives from Bulgarian and foreign business circles, governmental officials, diplomats, media and many others. The event is organized with the support of the Czech Embassy, the International Visegrad Fund and in cooperation with the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.

May

Keynote speech by the President of the European Parliament H.E. Martin Schulz, titled Europe’s Way Out of the Crisis, is held together with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and the Sofia University, and with the support of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.
Public discussion, titled Five years Bulgaria in the European Union, is conducted with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria Nikolay Mladenov, who presents an analysis of the first five years of Bulgaria in the EU. The event is organized by the Information Office of the European Parliament in Bulgaria and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.
A two-day international conference, titled NATO’s Role in the Black Sea Region in the Context of the New Security Challenges and NATO Summit in Chicago, is oganized with the support of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria – Burgas, the Ministry of Defense, NATO and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.
A public lecture by the Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Belguim H.E. Pieter De Crem is organized on the topic Challenges of the 21st Century in the Field of Security and Defence. The event is organized together with the Sofia Security Forum and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.

June

A conference, titled Food Policies and the Future of the Food Industry, is organized with the special support of the Embassy of the United States in Bulgaria, Solae, and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.
A discussion, titled EU-US Relations, is organized with the support by the Embassy of the United States and the Embassy of Denmark, and with the special support of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.
Round table on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s visit to Bulgaria, titled John Paul II: The Man Who Changed the World. The event is organized in cooperation with the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.
Public lecture by the Prime Minister of Kosovo H.E. Hashim Thaci, titled Kosovo and Western Balkans Toward Euro-Atlantic Integration. The event is held with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.

July

A three-day seminar, titled The Experience of Bulgaria in the EU Accession and Membership Process – Recommendations for Serbia. The seminar aims at promoting cooperation between students, young professionals and academics from Serbia and Bulgaria, and bringing the European integration experience of Bulgaria closer to the Serbian students and the Serbian public in general. The event is held in cooperation with the Center for Social Dialogue and Regional Initiatives from Belgrade and the Embassy of the United States in Serbia.

September

Conference on the topic 11 Years after September 11th: Lessons for 11 Years Ahead. The aim of the conference is to commemorate the tragic events that happened 11 years before and to remind of the threat and the consequences that modern terrorism poses. The conference is organized together with the International Institute for Security and Cooperation and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.
A conference titled Growing with Our Customers – UNIQA Success Formula for CEE Region. The aim of the conference is to discuss the European insurance policies and practices, and how they can influence the Bulgarian market. The event is supported by UNIQA and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.
A conference titled Digital Agenda for Europe: Reality or still Challenge. The aim of the conference is to outline the activities along the guidelines of the Digital Agenda for Europe that will help the countries in the region to transform one of its weaknesses into an advantage. Special guest at the event is Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission. The event is organized with the support of the Bulgarian Government, the Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications, and the European Commission.
A two-day international conference, titled NATO’s Challenges and Concerns in the next 10 years, is organized together with the Sofia Security Forum, the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy – Berlin, and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria.

October

The US-Bulgarian Alumni Association is established with the collaboration of the U.S. Embassy. The aim is to unite people who have studied in the United States of America. The first event of the newly established organization is held at the Plovdiv University, where the topic of discussion is the US Presidential Elections 2012.

November

European project for the creation of “European toy” with Turkey, Bulgaria and Poland, held in Kasary, Turkey. The event is attended by a member of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.
Commemorative concert for the victims of the terrorist attack at the Burgas airport. The event is held in cooperation with the organization of the Jews in Bulgaria „Shalom“, and is sponsored by the Burgas Minicipality and the Regional Administration.
Annual speech of the Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev, regarding the celebration of the first anniversary since his inauguration. The topic is Current Issues and Priorities in the National Security of the Republic of Bulgaria. The event is organized together with the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin.

December

The President of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria Dr. Solomon Passy is in Oslo, where the Nobel Peace Prize for 2012 is officially granted to the European Union. The Union is represented by the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, and the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schultz. The heads of state and government of the 27 member countries of the EU also attend the ceremony.

2011

January

The President of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria takes part in a conference titled The Relations Between Europe and the USA. The conference is organized by the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin. The event takes place in Washington and New York.

February

A public lecture by the European Commissioner for Budget and Financial Programming Janusz Lewandowski, titled Financial Stability of the EU: Challenges for the National Budget and the European Budget in the Future, is held with the support of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin.

March

The ACB organizes a farewell speech by H.E. Steve Williams, Ambassador of the United Kingdom in Bulgaria, titled 7 Years in Bulgaria: Some Reflections, commemorates the successful conclusion of his two terms as ambassador. The event is organized with the support of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin.
The ACB organizes a presentation of the famous NASA astronaut Dr. Story Musgrave, held in cooperation with the Embassy of the United States of America in Bulgaria.
The ACB holds a keynote speech by H.E. Fu Ying, Vice Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China, titled China’s Development, Challenges and Opportunities. The speech outlines various points in China’s domestic and foreign policy.

April

Keynote speech by the Ambassador of the Republic of France to Bulgaria, H.E. Phillipe Autié. The Ambassador discusses the priorities of the French Chairmanship of the G-20. The event is organized by The Atlantic Club, with the cooperation of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin.
A conference titled Europe as a Global Actor: The Roles and Responsibilities of Europe and US in the New World Order and the Digital Revolution” is organized by the ACB, with the support of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin. The conference is part of a series of events commemorating the 20th anniversary of The Atlantic Club. The event is opened by H.E. James Warlick, Ambassador of the United States of America to Bulgaria, H.E. Chun Bee-ho, Ambassador of the Republic of South Korea to Bulgaria, and Dr. Solomon Passy, President of The Atlantic Club. The lectors of the conference include: H.E. Tsvetan Tsvetanov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, H.E. Judith Lang, Ambassador of the Republic of Hungary to Bulgaria, H.E. Marc Michielsen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Bulgaria, and H.E. Tsetska Tsacheva, President of the National Assembly.

May

International conference titled Intelligent Defence and Security: Building an Effective Management Through Joint Actions and Control is organized by the ACB, with the special support of IBM – Bulgaria, SAP – Bulgaria, the Ministry of Defence of Bulgaria (MD) and in cooperation with the embassies of the United States of America and Germany in Bulgaria. The conference takes place at the Central Military Club in Sofia.
Public lecture of the Secretary-General of the United Nations H.E. Ban Ki-moon, titled The World: Next 20 Years, is conducted in cooperation with the UN Association in Bulgaria and the Diplomatic Institute.
Public discussion with Mr. Hans van der Loo, Vice-President of SHELL International and head of the Communications Department with the EU of the company, is held on the topic The Future of the Transport with Low Carbon Emissions. The Vice-President speaks about the intelligent consumption, intelligent machines and intelligent infrastructure as the future of energy efficiency.
Public lecture by Robert Vernon, ex-Assistant Police Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (L.A.P.D.), is organized with the support of the Embassy of the United States of America in Bulgaria.
Lecture by the Australian Professor Stephen Freelance, lecturer at the University of West Sidney. The lecture is part of the space project of the ACB and is on the subject of Activities in Space and Their Legal Aspects: National Space Legislation.

June

A conference on the topic Euro-Atlantic Integration: Applying the Visegrad Four Experience is held on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Visegrad Four. Its main goal is to confirm the fact that regional collaboration continues to be a main factor in the process of expanding the EU. The event is supported by the Visegrad International Fund and the Ambassadors of the Visegrad Four (V4) in Bulgaria.
A public discussion titled Europe after the Hungarian Chairmanship is held with the participation of the Ambassador of Hungary in Bulgaria H.E. Mrs. Judith Lang and the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Mr. Rosen Plevneliev, and with the kind support of the Open Society Institute.

July

A public discussion with the EU Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht is held in cooperation with the American Chamber of Commerce.
A public discussion titled Europe Under the Polish Chairmanship and the Place of Bulgaria is held with the participation of the Ambassador of Poland in Bulgaria, H.E. Mr. Lezsek Hensel, and the Minister of Economics, Energy and Tourism of Bulgaria Mr. Traycho Traykov. The event is organized with the kind support of the Open Society Institute.

September

Public lecture by the special adviser of the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa Dr. Eddy Maloka, titled Facebook Revolutions in Africa. The lecture is attended by H.E. Sheila Camerer, the Ambassador of South Africa, and is held in cooperation with the South Africa Embassy in Sofia, the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute, the Bulgarian School of Politics and the Institute of Cultural Diplomacy.
Keynote speech by the President of Hungary H.E. Pál Schmitt, titled National Solutions to Regional Challenges, is organized together with the Embassy of the Republic of Hungary in Bulgaria, the Bulgarian School of Politics and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.
A keynote speech by the Deputy Chairman of the SDP faction in the German Bundestag Dr. Gernot Erler, titled New Challenges for Foreign and Security Politics in Europe, is co-organized together with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Bulgaria and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.

October

A public lecture by the EU Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs, titled How European Development Cooperation Contributes to the Transformation of the Global Order. The event takes place with the special support of the Open Society Institute, the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.
Lecture by the former U.S. Ambassador to Bulgaria H.E. James Pardew, titled The Breakup of Yugoslavia, is organized with the support of the American Research Center.
A business conference, titled Korea-EU Free Trade Agreement: Growing Opportunities for Korea and Bulgaria, takes place with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Bulgaria and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy. The purpose of the conference is to analyze trade and investment relations between the European Union and the Republic of Korea, as well as Bulgaria’s opportunities as a member of the EU.

November

A conference, titled The New Arab Spring: What Happened, What It Means, and What Comes Next, is organized with the special support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, the Ministry of Defense of Bulgaria, the Institute of Cultural Diplomacy and NATO. The goal of the conference is to analyze the events in the Middle East and North Africa during the Arab Spring and the consequences of the revolution there. The two-days event takes place at the Central Military Club in Sofia.

December

A public lecture by Princess Laurentein van Orajne-Nassau of the Netherlands, titled A Different Mindset for a Sustainable Future: The Value of Inner-Generational Dialogue, is organized together with New Bulgarian University, the Credo Bonum Foundation, the Bulgarian School of Politics Dimitry Panitza, Publishing House Ciela and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.

2010

January

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the Pan-European Movement – Bulgaria and the cooperation of the Open Society Institute, organizes a public discussion with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain in Sofia H.E. Jorge Fuentes. The discussion is titled The ЕU During and After the Spanish Presidency and Bulgarian Priorities in the EU (2010 – 2011). Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance H.E. Simeon Djankov takes a special part in the discussion. The discussion is held at the Alexander’s Ballroom of the Radisson Hotel.
The President of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria Dr. Solomon Passy participates in an international conference in Prague, titled The Strategic Concept of NATO – A Response to Our Concerns, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, in the panel Practical Implications: Opportunities for Crisis Management and Civil and Military Planning in NATO-EU Cooperation.
The President of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria Dr. Solomon Passy participates as a guest lecturer in the third mission of the European Friends of Isreal for Auschwitz: Remembering the Past to Promote a Peaceful Future: Europe United Against Anti-Semitism, Racism, and Xenophobia. The event takes place in Krakow, Poland.

February

Dr. Solomon Passy participates in the International Economic Congress, organized by the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin. He participates in the following panels: The Role of Global Governance Organizations in the Contemporary International Economy; The New Economic World Order: The Rise of New Major Players in Global Politics and the Challenge of Interdependence; and Economic Walls in the International Economy.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by the newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Bulgaria, H.E. James Warlick. The lecture is titled A New Partnership: Shared Interests, Shared Values and is held at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan.

March

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the National Tourism Board, co-organizes a conference on the topic The Threat of Terrorism and Crime in Tourism from an EU Policy Perspective. The event takes place at the Sheraton Hotel’s Sredetz Ballroom. Among others, H.E. Noah Gan Gendler, Ambassador of the State of Isreal to Bulgaria, also takes part in the conference.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Banks Investments Money magazine, organizes a presentation on UBS Switzerland, titled Finance Markets and the World Economy. UBS is a global firm with headquarters in Zurich and Basel, which provides financial services to private, corporate and institutional clients.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, with the support of the Open Sociaty Institute, organizes a public lecture by Defence Minister Gen. Anyu Angelov. The lecture is titled Aspects of the Republic of Bulgaria’s Defence Policy.

May

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by U.S. NASA astronaut Marsha Ivins, titled Living and Working in Space: Today and Tomorrow. The lecture is realized with the kind support of the U.S. Embassy and held at the Sheraton Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by NATO Secretary-General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen. The lecture is held in the Central Military Club in Sofia, with the kind support of the Open Society Institute.
A delegation from The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, including Solomon Passy (President of the Club), Ivan Sotirov (Chairman of the NATO Information Center in Sofia), Stefan Stofyanski, Elena Poptodorova and Maxim Minchev, takes part in the International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy 2010, organized by the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin. During the Symposium, there is also a special day designated to the celebration of the 20th anniversary of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.

July

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by Kelly Degnan, Advisor to the U.S. Mission to NATO, on the topic NATO’s New Strategic Concept. The lecture takes place at the Bulgarian News Agency.

September

The Atlantic Club organizes a public lecture by H.E. Mehmed Gyudjuk, Ambassador from the Republic of Turkey to Bulgaria. The lecture is conducted in connection with the successful completion of his diplomatic mission in Sofia. During the event, the ambassador discusses the future Turkish membership in the EU, Turkish investments in Bulgaria, the trading exchange between the two countries, as well as the development of future Bulgarian-Turkish relations. The lecture takes place in the “Serdika” hall of the Sheraton Hotel in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by H.E. Etienne de Pomcins, the Ambassador of the Republic of France to Bulgaria. The lecture is conducted in order to commemorate his successful diplomatic mandate in Sofia. During the lecture, the ambassador talks about the judicial reform, the fight against corruption, organized crime, etc.

October

In the days between October 26 a 28, a conference is held on Europe to Afghanistan: from Understanding to Support. The event is organized by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the kind support of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin. The conference takes venerable figures from NATO and the EU. Among the participants are H.E. James Warlick, Mark Dofried, Danielle Ridggio and Bettina Musheidt. The three-day discussion is held on an extremely high level, as it considers all perspectives and solutions to current issues. The President of The Atlantic Club, Dr. Solomon Passy, opens the event with an introductory speech about the problems and needs of people in Afghanistan, and the sympathy of our country towards them. Among the conference’s participants are prominent politicians: Nickolay Mladenov (Minister of Foreign Affairs), Nikolai Milkov (Ministry of Defense), H.E. Anyu Angelov (Minister of Defense) and others. The conference is filmed by the Bulgarian National Television and BTV, whose famous journalists, among whom Ivan Garelov, Boyko Vassilev, Georgi Mikov and Venelin Petkov, act as moderators, as people who are very committed and proactive to events happening in the Middle East.
The President of The Atlantic Club delivers a lecture before students of the University of National and World Economy. The lecture touches upon matters in the area of national security and defence, and is part of Bulgaria at National Model United Nations 2010 – 2012 – a project of the Sociology Students’ Association of the University of Sofia. The project is financed by the Trust for Civil Society for Central and Eastern Europe, the Open Society Institute and the National Collegiate Conference Association.

November

A public lecture by Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva, titled New Strategies for Crisis Response in Europe: How the Increased Frequency and Intensity of the Disaster Changing the Reaction of the EU, is held on 1 November at the Sheraton Hotel, Sofia. The lecture is organized by The Atlantic Club and the European Commission’s Representation in Sofia. Ambassadors of more than 20 countries attend the event, which is also attended by Dr. Solomon Passy (the President of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria).
Dr. Solomon Passy delivers a lecture before students of the New Bulgarian University.
Dr. Solomon Passy takes part in an international conference on the topic of Maritime Piracy in the Context of Maritime Transportation Safety and its Relation to Bulgaria’s National Security. The conference is organized by Risk Solutions Ltd., EA “Maritime Administration”, etc., and with the support of the European Commission and Sofia County.
Solomon Passy attends a round table discussion on the topic of IT Aspects of Defence in the Context of NATO’s New Strategic Concept and the EU Strategy.
On November 24th, Jan Peterson, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway and its current Ambassador to Austria, delivers a public lecture at the Sheraton Hotel in Sofia. The lecture is organized by the Norwegian Embassy in Sofia, the Diplomatic Institute to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria and The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria. Mr. Paterson focuses on Norway’s role as a mediator in the resolution of military conflicts and in the relations between NATO and the EU, as well as the process of Bulgaria’s accession to NATO and the potential of the Far North.
On the same day, the President of The Atlantic Club Dr. Solomon Passy delivers a lecture before the students of the University of Sofia, titled NATO in Transition Toward a New Strategic Concept.
On November 25th, the Minister of Internal Affairs to the Republic of Bulgaria Nikolai Mladenov holds a lecture at the Sheraton Hotel, Sofia. The lecture is entitled NATO After Lisbon: the New Tendencies and the New Conception and is organized by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria. Minister Mladenov stresses that NATO continues its evolution from a military alliance to an alliance maintaining global security.

December

A delegation of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria visits South Korea, having been invited by the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During their visit, Dr. Solomon Passy and Maxim Behar have a meeting with South Korean politicians and members of the business sector.

2009

January

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture of H.E. Etienne de Poncins, Ambassador of France in Sofia. The lecture is on the topic France and NATO in Terms of Enhanced European Defence. The event takes place at the Sheraton Hotel in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a party to celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. The event is honored by H.E. Nancy McEldowney, US Ambassador in Sofia, Bulgarian politicians and representatives of the Bulgarian business elite.

March

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by the Ambassador of Japan in Sofia, H.E. Tsuneharu Takeda. The lecture is titled Japan and Bulgaria: Strengthening Partnership.
The Atlantic Club organizes an International Business Conference for Defense and Security under the patronage of H.E. Georgi Parvanov, President of the Republic of Bulgaria. The Conference is organized on the occasion of NATO’s 60 years anniversary and 5 years of Bulgaria in NATO. The event is attended by Dr. Zhelyu Zhelev, H.E. Tove Skarstein, Ambassador of Norway, Tsveta Markova, Chairman of the State Commission on Information Security, Nikolay Tsonev, Minister of Defense.

May

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a Business Forum in Kosovo. The Forum is attended by the Minister of the Interior of Kosovo, the Minister of Economy, representatives of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo, representatives of the World Bank and business representatives from Bulgaria and Kosovo.

June

The Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Youth Club signs a contract with the National Center for European Youth Programs and Initiatives, to implement the project Keep Sofia Green. The project’s duration is 4 months. The aim of the project is the organization of a Youth Initiative, within which to conduct a large-scale campaign to protect the green areas in the territory of Sofia municipality, and to focus on building environmental habits among young people.

September

A delegation from The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria takes part in the 55th General Assembly of the Atlantic Treaty Association in Kiev, Ukraine. The main topic of the Assembly is Security for the Civil Society in the 21st Century.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the Euro-Atlantic Club of Kosovo, organizes a public lecture by H.E. Chris William Dell, U.S. Ambassador in Kosovo. The lecture is attended by members of the Government of Kosovo, representatives of Bulgarian business in Kosovo and members of the diplomatic corps in Kosovo.

November

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the NATO Information Center in Sofia, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of the Economy, Energy and Tourism, the State Commission on Information Security, the Bulgarian Defence Industry, and the Pan-European Movement – Bulgaria, organizes the Annual International Business Conference for Defense and Security. The conference is organized under the patronage of H.E. Boyko Borisov, Prime Minister of Bulgaria. The participants in the conference discuss the New Strategic Concept of NATO and the modernization of the Bulgarian Army.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Pan-European Movement – Bulgaria organize a joint public lecture by two Ambassadors in Sofia – H.E. Paul Beijer, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden, and H.E. Jorge Fuentes, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain. The lecture is held at the Hilton Hotel in Sofia.

December

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the Bulgarian News Agency, the Bulgarian Writers Union and the Bulgarian Media Agency, presents the Bulgarian edition of the Shimon Peres Biography book by Michael Bar-Zohar. The event is held at the National Palace of Culture in Sofia.
Ivan Sotirov, Director of the NATO Information Center in Sofia, is a speaker at the 17th Annual International Symposium of the Greek Association for Atlantic and European Cooperation, The New Strategic Concept of NATO, in Athens, Greece.

2008

February

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the NATO Information Centre in Sofia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Macedonia, the Balkan Forum for Security – Macedonia, the George Marshall – Bulgaria foundation, the State Commission on Information Security – Bulgaria, the State Agency for Information, Technology and Communications – Bulgaria, organizes in Skopje a joint Bulgarian-Macedonian Business Conference on the topic Business supports Macedonia for NATO.
The Manfred Woerner Foundation, with the support of the Balkan Trust for Democracy, organizes a Conference on the topic Inclusion of NGOs in Facilitating the European Integration of Immigrants and two round tables attended by NGOs dealing with the problems of immigrants and refugees, with the special participation of representatives of immigrant communities from Asia, Africa and the Middle East in Bulgaria.

March

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a presentation of the strategic report Bulgarian Policy Towards the Republic of Macedonia: Recommendations for the Development of Good Neighbourly Relations After the Accession of Bulgaria to the EU in the Context of EU Enlargement and NATO in the Western Balkans, published by the Manfred Woerner Foundation in a trilingual edition in Bulgarian, Macedonian and English. The event is held at the Central Military Club in Sofia.

April

The Manfred Wörner Foundation organizes an Information Forum on the topic European Structural Funds: First Impressions and Challenges for the Bulgarian Business. The event is held in Sofia. The participants come from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economy and Energy and the Ministry of labor.

May

The Manfred Wörner Foundation, together with the Center for European Refugees, Migration and Ethnic Studies at New Bulgarian University, organize two round tables, followed by an international conference, as part of the PFAR project Development of Civil Society 2004. The round tables are on the topic Integration Through the Eyes of Immigrants and Migration Studies: National and European Projects. The participants at the Conference include scientists from Great Britain, France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. Both events take place at the Central Military Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the NATO Information Centre, George Marshall – Bulgaria foundation, the State Commission on Information Security, the State Agency for Information Technology and Communications, the Ministry of Economy and Energy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Hermes Foundation and the Bulgarian Defence Industry foundation, organize an International Conference for Security and Defence, in Plovdiv.

July

Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, Chairman of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, delivers a report at an international seminar on the topic of National Identities and Minorities. The seminar takes place in Hidra, Greece.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the NATO Information Center in Sofia, in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Energy and the Ministry of Finance, organizes a conference in Pomorie on the topic Exports of Electricity from Bulgaria – Nuclear Power, Renewable Energy and Other Perspectives. Improved Interaction Between Private Exporters and the State.

August

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the NATO Information Center in Sofia and the State Commission on Information Security organize in Pomorie a seminar on the topic Procedures and Practices Relating to the Protection of Classified Information.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the NATO Information Center in Sofia, together with the Ministry of Defence, organize a conference with the special attendance of Loretta Sanchez, Member of the Committee on Armed Services in the US Congress, Joe Wilson, Chairman of the Friendship Group USA-Bulgaria in the US Congress and a Member of the Committee on Armed Services, and Madeline Bordalo, Member of the US-Bulgarian Friendship Group.

September

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the Ohrid Institute for Economical Strategies and International Relations, organize in the Arka Hotel, Skopje, a workshop on the topic of Development of Conceptual and Political Factors of National and Regional Security. The event is sponsored by the NATO Science program Security Through Science and is attended by security experts from eleven countries from Europe and USA.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the NATO Information Center in Sofia, the Euro-Atlantic Council of Macedonia and the Union of Economic Chamber of Macedonia, organizes a Bulgarian-Macedonian business forum in Skopje.

October

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the NATO Information Center in Sofia, organize a public lecture by H.E. Nancy McEldowney, US Ambassador in Sofia, on the topic New Epoch in Bulgarian-American Relations.

November

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the Economic Chamber of Kosovo, the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Kosovo, the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kosovo and the Association of Municipalities in Kosovo, organizes the Bulgarian-Kosovo Business Forum in Pristina.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the NATO Information Center in Sofia, organizes a Public Lecture of H.E. Yurii Issakov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Sofia, on the topic Consequences of the Crisis in the Caucasus to Find the Solution of Security Issues in the Black Sea Region.

December

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the School for Politics, organizes a public lecture by H.E. Kim Kemble, ex Prime Minister of Canada, on the topic The European Union and Canada: Partnership from Afghanistan to the North Pole.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the NATO Information Center in Sofia, the Bulgarian Academy of Science, the Bulgarian Aerospace Agency and the State Agency for Information, Technology and Communications, organize an Aerospace Conference with two panels – Bulgaria in Space and “Aerospace Technologies – New Horizons for the Military Aviation. The conference is attended by representatives of the state sdministration, the science community and the business sector.

2007

February

The Atlantic Club, in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Energy, and the Ministry of Defense, organize an international conference on Offset in Bulgaria: Topical Issues and Perspectives. The event is held under the auspices, and with the special participation, of H.E. Sergey Stanishev, Prime Minister of Bulgaria, and with the participation of H.E. Rumen Ovcharov, Minister of Economy and Energy of Bulgaria; H.E. Simeon Nikolov, Deputy Minister of Defense; H.E. Solomon Passy, Chairman of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee and Honorary President of The Atlantic Club; H.E. Tsveta Markova, Chairperson of the State Commission on Information Security; H.E. Plamen Vachkov, Chairman of the State Agency for Information Technology and Communications; representatives of defense industry companies, academia and media. The conference takes place at the Central Military Club in Sofia.

March

The Atlantic Club, in cooperation with the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee and the Embassy of Palestine in Bulgaria, organizes a round table discussion on The Future of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Tendencies reflecting the Road Map to peace, with the special participation of H.E. Kamal Al-Sharafi, Advisor of the President of the Palestinian Autonomy. H.E. Dr. Ismail Hassan, Ambassador of the Palestine in Bulgaria; Uri Reznik, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Israel, and Amb. Petko Doykov, Director of the Middle East and the Africa Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, take part in the discussion. The round table takes place at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club organizes a public lecture by H.E. Plamen Oresharski, Minister of Finance of Bulgaria, on Bulgarian Economy – State and Perspectives. The event takes place at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria holds its XI Traditional Annual Atlantic Lunch. Among the invited guests are ambassadors from NATO member states, representatives of Bulgarian and international businesses, politicians and public figures. The lunch venue is the Central Military Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club, in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Energy, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of State Policy for Disasters and Accidents, the State Agency for Information Technology and Communications, and the State Commission on Information Security, organizes an international conference on The Communication and Information Systems (CIS) in the Field of Security in Bulgaria:Euro-Atlantic Dimensions. Among the participants are H.E. Rumen Petkov, Minister of Interior, H.E. Solomon Passy, Chairman of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee and Honorary President of The Atlantic Club, and H.E. Simeon Nikolov, Deputy Minister of Defense. The conference takes place at the Central Military Club in Sofia.
The Manfred Wörner Foundation publishes a study titled Towards New Immigration Policies for Bulgaria. The report is developed within the framework of the project Increasing the Capacity of Non-Governmental Organizations for the Creation of a Public Environment in Favor of the Formation of New Immigration Policies, funded by the PHARE Civil Society Development Program of the EU.

April

The Chairman of The Atlantic Club Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov takes part, as invited panelist, in the conference Security Concepts and Contemporary Policies in Kosovo, organized by the Kosovo Atlantic Association and the FAMA University in Prishtina.
The Atlantic Club organizes a public lecture by H.E. Stefano Manservizi, Managing Director of the General Department of Development at the European Commission, on the topic The European Union as a Global Donor: The Challenges Facing the New Member-States. The event takes place at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.

May

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a round table on the 5th Anniversary of the State Commission on Information Security: Experience, Practices and Necessity for Enhancing the Classified Information Protection Act. The event is held at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel, with the participation of H.E. Tsveta Markova, Chairperson of SCIS, Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, Chairman of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, as well as Bulgarian politicians, government officials, and businessmen.
A delegation of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, led by Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, takes part in the annual Council Meeting of the Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA) held at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria publishes a guide book for the American military who would serve and train at the joint US-Bulgarian military bases under the Defense Cooperation Agreement between Bulgaria and the United States of America. The publication is supported by the Democracy Commission at the US Embassy in Sofia. The booklet, titled Bulgaria: Bezmer and Adjacent Regions – Guide for American Military, includes some general information on the country and its history, as well as descriptions of sightseeing destinations in southeastern Bulgaria, various services offered in the area, such as restaurants, night clubs, sport clubs, taxi companies, banks, stores, swimming pools, tennis courts, local industry, etc. Published in English in 1,500 copies, the guide book is distributed among the US military and is highly praised by diplomats and experts.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria hold a round table with the participation of experts, politicians and scholars, to discuss the new challenges in the bilateral relations between Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia. The event takes place at the Diplomatic Institute’s premises.

June

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, jointly with the Euro-Atlantic Club of Yambol and Bezmer Air Base Commander Gen. Vasil Dimitrov, organize the Bezmer Day, an open day event promoting contacts between the local community and the military serving at the joint Bulgarian-US military facility. The event includes air flight demonstrations attended by several hundred people, among them many children. The Yambol Governor Yordan Koev presents the winners of a high school essay contest on the future of NATO.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Euro-Atlantic Club of Yambol organize a public presentation of the Bezmer Guide Book. The event takes place at the Diana Palace Hotel in Yambol, with the participation of Mincho Spasov, MP and local politicians, businessmen and media. The delegation of The Atlantic Club, led by D. Lyubomir Ivanov, also has a public meeting in the nearby village of Bolyarsko hosted by the village Mayor Donka Atanasova.
The Manfred Wörner Foundation carries out a training seminar on the integration of immigrants, funded by the PHARE 2004 Civil Society Development Program of the EU. Twenty-two representatives of the African, Arab, Kurdish and Afghani immigrant communities discuss human rights, economic and media issues with government, local authorities and NGO experts. The seminar is held in Bankya, Sofia Province.

July

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Rakovski Defense and Staff College, organize a round table on Missile Defense of the USA and NATO: Bulgaria’s Role. Among the participants are H.E. John Byerle, Ambassador of the United States, Jim Engle, US Mission to NATO, and Dr. Solomon Passy, Honorary President of the Club and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Bulgarian National Assembly. Russian Embassy representatives, Bulgarian military, politicians and journalists also take part in the discussion. The event takes place at the Central Military Club in Sofia.

September

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the General Chief of the Bulgarian Army, organize a meeting at the Novo Selo Military Training Range for thirty local community representatives and businessmen with the first U.S.-Bulgarian joint task force training exercise ‘Lion Strike’ Commander Bruce Sones, U.S. Embassy Defense Cooperation Chief Lieut.-Col. Eric Whatley and AmCham Executive Director Valentin Georgiev.
The Euro-Atlantic Youth Club of Yambol, jointly with the Regional Civil Defense Directorate, organize a civil defense workshop for about 30 children and teenagers from the city of Yambol. The event is held at the Diana Palace Hotel in Yambol.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, jointly with the American University in Bulgaria, the Pan-European Movement – Bulgaria, and with the support of UNDP, organize the round table Bulgarian Debate on the Millennium Development Goals, with the participation of H.E. Lyubomir Kyuchukov, Deputy Foreign Minister, Ms. Lene Jespersen, Resident Representative of UNDP Bulgaria, ambassadors, MPs, academic and NGO experts. The event is held at the National Assembly premises.

October

The Professional Training Centre at the Manfred Wörner Foundation, in partnership with Sofia University, organizes a training course, part of the project Development of a Network of Vocational Training Centers for Young People With Disabilities and Resource Teachers for Children With Special Educational Needs Qualification, funded by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy. As a result, ten unemployed people with visual disabilities from the Sofia region obtain their certificates for professional qualification in computer literacy.
The Manfred Wörner Foundation holds a round table, titled Bulgaria’s Policies Towards the Republic of Macedonia, with the participation of the Bulgarian government, academic and NGO experts, discussing the draft Recommendations for the Development of Good Neighbourly Relations Between Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia in the Context of NATO and EU Enlargement in the Western Balkans, prepared by the Foundation. The event takes place at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club hosts a policy meeting with Ms. Colleen Graffy, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and former Professor of Law at Pepperdine University London. The meeting seeks to engage the Ministry of Defense, the General Chief of Staff and NGO experts in outlining new strategies of fostering civil society awareness and involvement in foreign policy issues, such as the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkans, anti-Americanism, etc. The meeting is held at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
The Manfred Wörner Foundation, together with the Centre for European, Refugee, Migration and Ethnic Studies at the New Bulgarian University, organize a second seminar on immigrant integration funded by the PHARE 2004 Civil Society Development Program of the EU. Over forty representatives of the Arab, African, Kurd and Afghan communities, and experts from the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, the State Agency for Refugees, the Legal Clinic for Immigrants and Refugees at the Sofia University, the Confederation of Employers and Industry in Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Media Coalition discuss the role of immigrant organizations in Bulgaria. The seminar takes place in Marchaevo, Sofia Province.
The Atlantic Club organizes a policy meeting with young diplomats from various departments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan. The topics of discussion include the potential for cooperation between Bulgaria and Afghanistan, the current challenges facing Afghanistan, such as Taliban efforts, suicide bomb attacks, collateral civilian casualties, social and economic development, relations with Pakistan, and NATO involvement in Afghanistan. The meeting is held at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
The Manfred Wörner Foundation, in partnership with the Mother and Child Orphanage, Vidin, organizes a conference on drawing the attention of the community towards the problems of people with disabilities and the rights and opportunities for children with disabilities and their families, as part of the project Worthy Life for Children with Serious Disabilities. The conference is held at the Mother and Child Orphanage in Vidin.

November

A delegation of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, led by Dr. Solomon Passy, takes part in the 53rd ATA General Assembly held in Ottawa, Canada.
The Euro-Atlantic Youth Club organizes a youth conference in the city of Ruse, with the participation of Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, Chairman of The Atlantic Club, Dr. Zhivko Georgiev, Director Strategic Studies of the Manfred Wörner Foundation, academics from the New Bulgarian University and students from several Bulgarian universities. Under the project supported by NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division (PDD), winners in the essay contest The Next Generation: A Glance at NATO Development are invited to visit the NATO Headquarters in Brussels. The event is held at the Riga Hotel in Ruse.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria co-organizes a public presentation of the National Codification Instrument, a software product developed by TechnoLogica Ltd and donated by the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense to the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Macedonia. The event is held at the Republic of Macedonia Army Club in Skopje.
The Manfred Wörner Foundation, in cooperation with the Centre for European Refugees, Migration and Ethnic Studies at the New Bulgarian University organizes a debate on Being an Afghan in Bulgaria, with the participation of the Afghan community leaders Mohamed Salem Amoni, Abdul Rahman Rashid and Sher Mohammad Hassani; Nadezhda Stoyanova (Manfred Wörner Foundation), Dimitar Sotirov (Bulgarian Media Coalition) and Zhana Nikolova (Za Grada – “For the City”). The event, supported by the Trust for Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe, is held at Chervenata Kashta (‘The Red House’) venue in Sofia.
Under the patronage of H.E. Sergey Stanishev, Prime Minister of Bulgaria, The Atlantic Club, jointly with the Ministry of Economy and Energy, the Ministry of Defense, the NATO Information Centre in Sofia and the Bulgarian Defense Industry Association, organize an international conference in Sofia on the topic Development of the Offset Policy in Bulgaria, with the participation of H.E. Petar Dimitrov, Minister of Economy and Energy, H.E. Sonya Yankulova and H.E. Simeon Nikolov, Deputy Ministers of Defense, H.E. Tsveta Markova, Chairperson of the State Commission on Information Security, relevant parliamentary committees, foreign and Bulgarian companies from the defense industry and the high technology sector. The event is held at the Central Military Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, supported by the NATO Public Diplomacy Division (PDD), organizes a conference on NATO Security Framework in Afghanistan: Present Challenges and Future Perspectives, with the participation of H.E. Ahmad Nuristani, First Deputy Defense Minister of Afghanistan; H.E. Feim Chaushev, Deputy Foreign Minister of Bulgaria, high ranking NATO officials, US Ambassador John Byerle, Afghanistan Ambassador Mrs. Zahida Ansary, Canadian Ambassador Marta Moszczenska, Gen. Evgeni Manev – Commander of the Rakovski Defense and Staff College, diplomats, senior military from the General Staff of the Bulgarian Army, former Bulgarian mission commanders in Afghanistan, businessmen, media analysts and youth activists. The conference is held at the Radisson Hotel in Sofia.

December

The Chairman of The Atlantic Club Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov gives a lecture titled Kosovo, NATO and EU before the Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) at the Iranian Foreign Ministry. A delegation of the Club, led by him, takes part in a round table organized by IPIS and has a series of meetings with Iranian politicians and think-tank leaders, including Deputy Foreign Minister for Research and Training Manouchehr Mohammadi, Dr. Rasoul Mousavi, Director General of IPIS, Dr. Vahid Karimi, Director of the IPIS Euro-American Center; Abbas Maleki, Chairman of the International Institute for Caspian Studies, and Dr. Bahador Aminian, Rector of the School of International Relations at the Iranian Foreign Ministry. Dr. Ivanov is the guest of the weekly Four Corners Special of the Press TV in Tehran.
The Annual General Assembly of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria is held at the Central Military Club in Sofia.

2006

January

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by the Minister of Defense H.E. Veselin Bliznakov, titled Security and Defense Policy of the Republic of Bulgaria: Priorities and Challenges in 2006. The event takes place at the St. Sofia Hotel.
The Chairman of The Atlantic Club Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, together with the Chairman of the City Council of Bobovdol Eng. Ivan Katsarski and the Mayor of Bobovdol Yordanka Kalenichkova participate in a NATO Day in Bobovdol.

February

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense, organize a NATO Day in the town of Sliven. The event is attended by the special guest H.E. Veselin Bliznakov, Minister of Defense of Bulgaria, H.E. Solomon Passy, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Mr. Yordan Lechkov, Mayor of Sliven City, Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, Chairman of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, as well as ambassadors, military and trade attaches from NATO member and partner countries.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense, organizes a conference on Communication and Information Systems for Transforming the Bulgarian Defense into an Organization with Network Abilities. The conference is attended by the special guest H.E. Veselin Bliznakov, Minister of Defense of Bulgaria. The event is held at the Military Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the State Agency for Information Technology and Communications coorganize a formal presentation of the anniversary edition of Bulgarian Philately titled to Years of Bulgarian Antarctic Cartography.

March

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Euro-Atlantic Club of Yambol organize a public discussion on Bulgarian-American Security Partnership, attended by the special guest H.E. John Beyrle, Ambassador of the USA to Bulgaria. The event is held in Yambol.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and The Atlantic Club of Iraq organize a round table dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the organized Atlantic movement in Central and Eastern Europe, on Topical Problems of the Security and Democratization in Iraq, with the participation of H.E. Jabar Jauer Manda, Deputy Minister of Defense of Iraqi Kurdistan. The event is held at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and The Atlantic Club of Iraq hold a cocktail on occasion of the round table dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the Atlantic movement in Central and Eastern Europe The event is attended by Bulgarian politicians and businessmen, representatives of social organizations, as well as journalists. The cocktail is held at the Topolite Restaurant in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by Gen. Lance Smith, NATO Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation and Commander U.S. Joint Forces Command, titled Military Transformation of NATO. The lecture is held at the Central Military Club in Sofia.

April

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense, organizes a Day of Bulgarian-American Security Partnership in Plovdiv. H.E. Veselin Bliznakov, Minister of Defense of Bulgaria, is the special guest of the event. H.E. Solomon Passy, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, H.E. Gergana Grancharova, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. John Bayrle, Ambassador of the USA in Bulgaria, Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, Chairman of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, as well as ambassadors, military and trade attaches from NATO member States and partners are the other honourable guests of the event.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, jointly with the University of Jacksonville, Florida, organize the 5th edition of the educational seminar Cooperation Between State and Local Authority with the Military Base Located on Their Area: Economic and Political Aspects, with the participation of Bulgarian regional governors, city mayors and businessmen. The program includes visits to the Naval Station Mayport, Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Blount Island Command, US Central Command (CENTCOM) in Tampa and the converted base Cecil Field.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a Welcome Party on the occasion of the international conference The Power of Values and the Value of Power dedicated to the 15th Anniversary of the Atlantic movement in Central and Eastern Europe. The cocktail reception is held at the Krim Restaurant in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense, organize an international conference dedicated to the 15th Anniversary of the Organized Atlantic Movement in Central and Eastern Europe on The Power of Values and the Value of Power. The conference is carried out under the auspices of H.E. Georgi Parvanov, President of Bulgaria. Representatives of several organizations from Bulgaria and abroad take part in it. Among them are H.E. Ivaylo Kalfin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Willem van Eekelen, President of the European Movement, H.E. Veselin Bliznakov, Minister of Defense of Bulgaria, Gen. Nikola Kolev, Chief of General Staff of the Bulgarian Armed Forces, H.E. Todor Churov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, H.E. Solomon Passy, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, Chairman of The Atlantic Club. The event takes place at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Economy and Energy, the State Agency for Information, Technology and Communications, the Ministry of Disaster Management Policy and the State Commission on Information Security, organizes a conference titled Infrastructure and Security – Military, Technical and Economic Dimensions. Among the participants are H.E. Solomon Passy, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Plamen Vachkov, Chairman of the State Agency for Information Technology and Communications, H.E. Radoslav Bozadzhiev, Deputy Minister of Defense, military and commercial attaches from NATO member states. The conference takes place at the conference center at the Burgas Free University.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organize a public lecture by NATO Secretary-General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, on the occasion of the official opening of an exhibition on Bulgarian Army in the Operations and Missions of NATO. The lecture is held at the National Palace of Culture in Sofia.

May

The Chairman of The Atlantic Club Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov represents Bulgaria at the International Conference NATO-Russia Rally. The event is organized in Novosibirsk by the State University of Novosibirsk and the NATO Information Center in Moscow. Dr. Ivanov’s report is on The Future Integration of Russia in the Framework of the Euro-Atlantic Structures.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Embassy of the Republic of Albania organize a gala dinner with the special participation of the President of the Republic of Albania H.E. Alfred Moisiu, on the occasion of his official visit to Bulgaria. The event is held at the Central Military Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes the 10th Annual Atlantic Lunch. Special guest of the event is the President of the Republic of Albania H.E. Alfred Mouisiu.
Among the invited are ambassadors from NATO member states, representatives of the Bulgarian business sector, politicians and public figures. The lunch is held at the Kempinski Zografski Hotel in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Euro-Atlantic Club in Yambol, in cooperation with the US Embassy in Bulgaria, organize a youth workshop on Bulgarian-American Base in Bezmer in the Context of the Municipal Plan for Development.
The workshop is held at the Diana Hotel in Yambol. Representatives of several youth organizations from the city of Yambol, as well as from Sofia, have the opportunity to take part in the discussion, together with the representatives of the local authorities.

June

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Euro-Atlantic Club in Yambol, in cooperation with the US Embassy in Bulgaria, organize a Bezmer Airbase Day in Bezmer. The youth representatives and representatives of the Yambol municipalities continue the discussion on the Plan for Engaging the Bulgarian-American Base in Bezmer in the Regional Strategy of Yambol and the Municipal Plans for Developing the Yambol and Tundzha Municipalities in a follow-up seminar hosted by the Airbase.
The Chairman of The Atlantic Club Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov represents Bulgaria and makes a presentation at the Meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Joint Working Group on Defense Reform — Defense and Security Affairs: What Role for Civil Society. The event takes place in Krakow, Poland.

July

The Manfred Wörner Foundation organizes a regional round table on Immigration Politics and Regional Plans for Development. The round table is organized within the framework of the implementation of the PHARE project Strenghtening the NGO Capacity to Create Public Environment for the Formulation of New Immigration Policies. Representatives of the municipalities, the district administrations, NGOs and think tanks from the southwest planning region of Bulgaria and researchers in migration studies take part in the ensuing discussion. The event is held at the American University in Blagoevgrad.

September

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a cocktail reception on the occasion of the departure of Mr. Plamen Grozdanov as an Ambassador for Russia.The event is held at the Krim Restaurant in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Geneva Centre for Democratic Control of the Armed Forces (DCAF) and the National Assembly of Bulgaria, organize a workshop on Parliamentary Dimension of Defense Procurement. The event takes place at the premises of the National Assembly of Bulgaria.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, with the participation of the Chinese Ambassador, H.E. Yu Zhenqi, organize a presentation of the project New Qinghai-Tibet Railway. The event is held at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the General Staff of the Bulgarian Army, organize a public lecture by General Zlatan Stoykov, Chief of General Staff of the Bulgarian Army, on Participation of the Bulgarian Army in the Construction of European Defensive Abilities. The event takes place at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.

October

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the US Embassy in Bulgaria, the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, and the District Administration of Sliven, organizes a public discussion on Bulgarian-American Security Partnership in Sliven. The participants are H.E. Mihail Rosianu, Ambassador of the Republic of Romania, Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, Mr. Mark Johnson, Economic Officer, Political/Economic Section US Embassy, Mrs. Hristina Cholakova, Governor of the District of Sliven, Dr. Zhivko Georgiev, of the Manfred Werner Foundation.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the US Embassy in Bulgaria, the Embassy of the Republic of Romania, the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee and the Silistra Municipality, organizes an international conference on Security Partnership with the USA: The Bulgarian and Romanian Experience in Silistra. Among the participants are H.E. Mihail Rosianu, Ambassador of the Republic of Romania, Mr. Adrian Nicolaescu, Deputy—Prefect of Constanta, Mr. Brad Freden, Counsellor for Political & Economic Affairs, US Embassy, Col. Manol Bonev, Head of Section, General Staff of the Bulgarian Army, Mr. No Andonov, Mayor of Silistra, Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov. The event takes place at the Drastar Hotel, Silistra.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by Mr. Nedelcho Beronov, Candidate for President of Bulgaria, on the topic Bulgaria Beyond the Communism and After the Transition: Foreign Policy and National Security. The event is held at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Manfred Woerner Foundation organizes a working breakfast for journalists on the occasion of a conference on Bulgarian Immigration Practices in the Context of Making a Common EU Immigration Policy. Among the participants in the event are Dr. Anna Krasteva, President of the Centre for Refugees, Prof. fro Nicolacopoulou Stephanou, President of the Greek Council for Refugees, Mr. Kemal Eyup, Chairman of the Comission for Protection against Discrimination, Krassimir Dachev, Chair of the Bulgarian trade and industry Chamber, Maya Cholakova, Director direction ‘Ethnic and Demographic Issues’, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy. The conference takes place at the St. Sofia Hotel in Sofia.

November

Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov is the honourable guest of the Day of the Bulgarian Spiritual Leaders in Varna. He takes part in the public performance and discussion titled Three Minutes Frankly about Bulgaria and presents Mayor Kiril Yordanov of Varna with a map of Livingston Island showing in particular the peninsula named after Varna.
The Atlantic Club organizes a public lecture by H.E. Antonio Miloshoski, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Macedonia, on the topic Macedonia and NATO. The event takes place at Tarzhestvena Hall, Central Military Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club organizes a public lecture by H.E. John Beyrle, Ambassador of the United States on the topic USA-Bulgaria and the Security of Europe. The event takes place at the Burgas Free University.
The Atlantic Club organizes a public meeting with H.E. John Beyrle, Ambassador of the United States. The event is held at the Community Hall of the city of Aytos.
The Atlantic Club organized a public lecture by H.E. Gela Bezhuashvili, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, on the topic Georgia and NATO. The event takes place at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Club organizes a one-week training seminar for non-government Afghan activists. Among the participants are three representatives from the Afghan public sector, Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, Chairman of The Atlantic Club, Dr Zhivko Georgiev from the Manfred Warner Foundation and Mr. Dimitar Sotirov from the Bulgarian Media Coalition.
The Atlantic Club organizes a round table on the topic The Role of the Public Society in the Restoration of Afghanistan. Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, Chairman of The Atlantic Club, Mr. Maxim Minchev, Director, BTA, Col. Ivan Milanov, Director, Department of Defense Politics, Mr. Babakhan Aslami, Chairman, Aghan Council for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation, Prof. Georgi Lozanov, Bulgarian Media Coalition, and Mohamed Khalaf, journalist, take part in the discussion. The event takes place at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel. A website on the joint Bulgarian-American military facilities is created.
A delegation of The Atlantic Club including the Honorary President Dr. Solomon Passy, Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, and Board Member Maxim Minchev, Director of the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency, takes part in the presentation in Skopje of the Macedonian edition of the book Atlantic Patiences by Mr. Minchev.
Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, Chairman of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, participates in a conference organized by NATO on the topic The Expansion of the Alliance. The event is held in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

December

A delegation of The Atlantic Club, led by Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, Chairman of the Club, has an audience with Pope Benedict XVI on December 6th. His Holiness is presented with a copy of the Bulgarian map of Livingston Island, Antarctica, featuring the Ioannes Paulus II Peninsula named by Bulgaria in appreciation of the contribution of Pope John Paul II to world peace and understanding among people. The delegation includes H.E. Gergana Grancharova, Deputy Foreign Minister; H.E. Solomon Passy, Honorary President of the Club and Chairman of the parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee; Maxim Minchev, Director of the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency; the Bulgarian ambassadors to the Vatican and Italy, as well as prominent businessmen.
A delegation of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria takes part in the 52nd Annual Assembly of the Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA) held in Athens.
The Atlantic Club and the Euro-Atlantic Club of Yambol, with the support of the US Embassy in Sofia, organize a youth seminar on The Bulgarian-American Base of Bezmer and the Municipal Plans for Development of the Yambol District and the Tundzha District. The event takes place in Yambol with the participation of the mayors of Tundzha District, Bolyarsko and Bezmer, the US Cultural Attache, and local government, military and academic experts and businessmen.
The Manfred Woerner Foundation and the Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organize an Atlantic policy meeting with the participation of young Afghan diplomats.
The Atlantic Club organizes an Atlantic policy meeting with experts on the bilateral relations between Balkan states in the context of Bulgaria’s membership in EU and NATO.
The Atlantic Club publishes a study titled The joint Bulgarian-American Military Installations: International and Internal Strategic, Political, Economic and Ecological Consequences from the Bilateral Agreement on Their Positioning on the Territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, commissioned by the Foreign Ministry of Bulgaria and prepared by the non-governmental Security Sector Reform Coalition led by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.

2005

January

The Manfred Wörner Foundation, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute, organize the Bulgarian topographic survey Tangra 2004/05 on Livingston Island, Antarctica, from November 2004 to January 2005.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria operates the Post Office of Tangra 1991 on behalf of the Bulgarian Posts during the Austral summer 2004/05, situated at Camp Academia, Livingston Island, Antarctica.

February

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, jointly with the University of Jacksonville, Florida, organizes the 3rd edition of the educational seminar Cooperation Between Municipality and Military Base, with the participation of Bulgarian regional governors, city mayors, local councilors and businessmen. The program includes visits to the Naval Station Mayport, Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Blount Island Command, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) in Tampa and the converted base Cecil Field.
The Atlantic Club, with the support of the NATO Public Diplomacy Division, and in cooperation with the Institute for Regional and International Studies, the Institute for Security and International Studies, and the Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organizes the international conference Atlantic Partnership for Strengthening Stability in South Caucasus, held at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.

March

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the General Staff of the Bulgarian Army organize a public lecture by Adm. Edmund Giambastiani, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation and Commander, US Joint Forces Command. The event is held at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Bulgarian Euro Atlantic Youth Club and the Faculty of Geology and Geography at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski organize a public lecture on the achievements of the Bulgarian Antarctic expedition Tangra of 2004/05. The presentation is made by the expedition team comprising Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov and Doychin Vasilev and is held in the Main Aula of Sofia University.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Radnevo Municipality, organizes a public lecture by Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov and Doychin Vasilev, titled Livingston Island: Bulgaria’s Other Extremity. The lecture is held at the Radnevo Town Hall.

April

The Chairman of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov and the prominent Bulgarian alpinist Doychin Vasilev give an invited lecture at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on their topographic survey work on Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, from November 2004 to January 2005, resulting in the adoption of new Bulgarian toponyms of Antarctic geographical features and subsequently the publication of the first Bulgarian map of the Island.
The 9th Annual Atlantic Lunch of The Atlantic Club solemnly commemorates the First Anniversary of Bulgaria’s membership of the Alliance. The event is held at the Central Military Club in Sofia, with the participation of H.E. Angel Marin, Vice-President of Bulgaria, Gen. Nikola Kolev, Chief of General Staff of Bulgarian Army, and Amb. Lyubomir Ivanov, Permanent Representative of Bulgaria to NATO.

May

The Club, supported by the German Marshall Fund – US, publishes the strategic report Early Warning and Policy Perspectives in the Trans-Atlantic Security Agenda: Central and East European Point of View, with the contribution of authors from The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria; the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington D.C.; the George C. Marshall Association – Bulgaria; the Center for International Relations, Warsaw; the Estonian School of Diplomacy; the Institute for Security and International Studies, Sofia; the Bulgarian Military Academy; the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry; and the Ministry of Defense of Estonia.

June

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Burgas Chapter of the Club organize a public meeting with H.E. Solomon Passy, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria and Honorary President of the Club, on The European Future of the City of Burgas and the Burgas Region. The event is held at the Aqua Hotel Burgas and is accompanied by a photo exhibition presenting the political biography of Minister Passy, with a students’ art competition taking place as well.

July

The Club organizes a round table titled Federal Iraq and the Challenges and Opportunities of Bulgaria’s Contribution to the Reconstruction of the Country with the participation of H.E. Hayder Al-Barrak, Ambassador of Iraq to Bulgaria. The event takes place at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, jointly with the General Staff of the Bulgarian Army, organizes a public lecture by Gen. Rolando Mosca Moschini, Chairman of the EU Military Committee. The lecture is held at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.

September

The Atlantic Club, supported by the NATO Public Diplomacy Division and the Open Society Institute – Sofia, organize the first Bulgarian-Iraqi NATO Week, with the participation of a nine-person delegation of Iraqi Atlanticists led by Dr. Khairi Saleh, President; Dr. Jassim Thamir, Secretary General; and Dr. Mizher Abbas, Director, Reconstruction of Iraq Program of The Atlantic Club of Iraq. The series of events starts with a training seminar for the Iraqi activists held at the NATO Information Center in Sofia.
The Manfred Wörner Foundation organizes an Atlantic Policy Meeting on the challenges of democratic transformation of Iraq, with the participation of leaders and activists of the Iraqi Atlantic Club, H.E. Hayder Al-Barrak, Ambassador of Iraq, H.E. Valeri Rachev, Ambassador of Bulgaria in Iraq. The meeting discusses the latest political developments in Iraq, the new Iraqi Constitution, the October 15 Referendum, the vision and mission of the Iraqi Atlantic Club.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and The Atlantic Club of Iraq hold a joint press conference at the National Press Club of the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency, presenting the highlights of the Bulgarian-Iraqi NATO Week and the mission of NATO and the role of The Iraq Atlantic Club in the public and political life of the country.
The Chairman of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, the President of The Atlantic Club of Iraq Dr. Khairi Saleh, Dr. Jassim Thamir, Secretary General, and Dr. Mizher Abbas, Director for Reconstruction of the Iraq Program of the Iraqi Club, give invited testimony before a hearing of the Foreign Policy Committee of the Bulgarian Parliament on the Bulgarian contribution to the reconstruction and building of democratic Iraq.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a meeting of the Iraqi Atlantic Club delegation with Bulgarian business leaders.
The Atlantic Club and the Bulgarian General from the Staff of the Military Academy Georgi S. Rakovski organize a round table discussion with the delegation of The Atlantic Club of Iraq and the Academy command staff and lecturers who train officers participating in Bulgarian Armed Forces missions abroad.
The Atlantic Club and the Plovdiv Chapter of the Club organize a visit by the Iraqi Atlantic Club delegation to Plovdiv and a public meeting at the Plovdiv Atlantic Complex.

October

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a meeting of the Iraqi Atlantic Club delegation with Dr. Nikola Nikolov, Chairman of the State Agency of Civil Defense.
The Atlantic Club organizes a meeting of the Iraqi Atlantic Club delegation with Dr. Matey Mateev, Deputy Minister of Health, and a visit to the Military Medical Academy in Sofia.
The Club organizes a meeting of the Iraqi Atlantic Club delegation with Prof. Zdravko Popov, Director of the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Atlantic Club, supported by the NATO Public Diplomacy Division and by the Open Society Institute – Sofia, organize an international conference titled Prospective Ways and Solutions for Enhancing Stability and Security in Iraq with the participation of H.E. Gergana Grancharova, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and H.E. Zhelyu Zhelev, President of Bulgaria (1990 – 97), diplomats, experts from MFA, MoD, business, NGO think tanks, academia and media.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria prepares and publishes the brochure Iraq and NATO: Atlantic Solidarity and Partnership (in Arabic, 2,000 copies) to be disseminated in Iraq to promote Atlantic values and partnership.
Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, Chairman of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, and Dr. Khairi Saleh, President of The Atlantic Club of Iraq, lead a delegation of nine leaders and activists of the Iraqi Club on a visit to NATO Headquarters in Brussels, where they have meetings with Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, Secretary-General of NATO, and with Amb. Lyubomir Ivanov, Permanent Representative of Bulgaria to NATO.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, jointly with the University of Jacksonville, Florida, organizes the 4th edition of the educational seminar Cooperation between Municipality and Military Base, with the participation of Bulgarian regional governors, city mayors, local councilors and businessmen. The program includes visits to the Naval Station Mayport, Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Blount Island Command, US Central Command (CENTCOM) in Tampa and the converted base Cecil Field.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by H.E. John Beyrle, Ambassador of the USA in Bulgaria. The event is held at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.

November

The Honorary President of The Atlantic Club and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy Dr. Solomon Passy and the Chairman of the Club Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov take part in the official opening of the Euro-Atlantic Club of Yambol, the local Chapter of The Atlantic Club. They also visit the site of the designated joint US-Bulgarian military facility, the Bezmer Air Force Base.
The NATO Information Center, the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA), organize the international conference Strengthening Black Sea Maritime Security. The event is officially opened by the ATA Secretary General, Troels Frøling, with the participation of the Honorary President of The Atlantic Club Dr. Solomon Passy, the US and UK аmbassadors, and participants from NATO, UK, Turkey, Romania, Georgia, Greece, as well as MoD and MFA.
The Atlantic Club organizes a remake of the 1998 meeting between Bulgarian Atlanticists and H.M. Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha that took place at the Meridian Lisbon Hotel; the new edition of the event, initiated by ex-Foreign Minister and Honorary President of the Club Solomon Passy and PR leader Maxim Behar is held at the Festa Barceló Sofia Hotel. The honorary guest makes a program speech and is presented by The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, with an icon of Saint Nikolas and a Bulgarian topographic map of Livingston Island, Antarctica.

December

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by H.E. Meglena Kuneva, Minister of European Affairs, titled Why Bulgaria Could Become a Member of EU on 1st January 2007. The event is held at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Club, together with the Ministry of Economy and Energy, and the Ministry of Defense, organizes a round table titled The Offset Program: An Efficient Mechanism for Economic Development and Technology Transfer, with the special participation of H.E. Rumen Ovcharov, Minister of Economy and Energy. The event is held at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by Gen. Ray Henault, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee. The lecture, titled NATO’s Continuing Transformation, is held at the Central Military Club in Sofia.

2004

January

Within the framework of the US-EU-Bulgarian Action Commission, The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a visit by Commission Co-Director Dr. Janusz Bugajski, Director of the East European Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies of Washington, D.C., who meets with high-ranking Bulgarian statesmen and senior officials.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the General Staff of the Bulgarian Armed Forces, organizes a public lecture by General James L. Jones, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, at Sofia’s G. S. Rakovski Command and Staff College.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the Ellion Arts Foundation, organizes a public lecture by the International Federation of Christian Artists Chairman Leen La Riviere, at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the NATO Information Center organize a public lecture by Jose Maria Lopez Navarro, Liaison officer at NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division, at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by EuroComment Chairman and Centre for European Policy Studies Founding Director Peter Ludlow, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiar Zibari, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
Within the framework of the US-EU-Bulgaria Action Commission, The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes business seminars with the special participation of George Handy, Director of International Action Commissions at the Center for Strategic and International Studies of Washington, D.C., at Sofia’s American Center.

February

The Manfred Woerner Foundation organizes the Atlantic Policy Meeting No. 1 with the participation of representatives of the American Jewish Committee and foreign policy and security experts from the Bulgarian non-governmental sector, members of the Security Sector Reform Coalition, led by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the George C. Marshall Association-Bulgaria, at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia. Topics discussed include: U.S.-Bulgarian Strategic partnership; EU/NATO membership; Iraq; Anti-Semitism; OSCE.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a working discussion with the special participation of the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Robert Bradtke and US Permanent Representative to the OSCE Ambassador Steve Minikes, at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a Round-Table Discussion on The Role of NATO in the Democratic Transformation of Afghanistan, with the special participation of Baba Khan Aslami of the Afghanistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia. Afghan diplomats visit Bulgaria at The Atlantic Club’s invitation, as part of preparatory work for the establishment of an Atlantic NGO in Afghanistan.
The Manfred Woerner Foundation organizes an Atlantic Policy Meeting No. 2 with the participation of Dr. Janusz Bugajski of the Center for Strategic and International Studies of Washington, D.C., and members of the Security Sector Reform Coalition, focused on identifying foreign and security policy priorities in the US-EU-Bulgarian Action Commission work, at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by the European Affairs Minister Meglena Kouneva, on The New Priorities of EC Financial Framework for 2007 – 2013, at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture.

March

The Atlantic Club Chairman, Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, and Dr. Velizar Shalamanov, in charge of Strategic Studies at The Atlantic Club, are guest speakers at the educational seminar Reporting Defence and Security for journalists of Southeast Europe, at Sofia’s Saint Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria mails leaflets to 1,500,000 Bulgarian households, congratulating them on Bulgaria’s accession to NATO that became effective on 29th March 2004.
The Atlantic Club initiates and co-organizes public festivities at a number of Bulgarian cities.

April

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a series of events dedicated to Bulgaria’s accession to the North Atlantic Alliance, starting with a formal introduction ceremony for commemorative postage stamps at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel, followed by draping the Parliament’s building in Bulgarian and NATO flags, and by a public concert on Saint Alexander Nevsky Square.
The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov hoists a NATO flag at an official Bulgarian ceremony in Kabul, Afghanistan, celebrating Bulgaria’s accession to NATO. During the visit to Kabul, Dr. Ivanov grants The Atlantic Club Golden Award to Bulgarian contingent commanders in Afghanistan, Lieutenant Colonel Asen Raslanov and Major Nikolai Ordaliev, during a special ceremony in presence of Allied military personnel from the 28 ISAF nations.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes an 8th Atlantic Lunch. NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer is invited as a special guest and lecturer.
The Chairman of The Atlantic Club Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov takes part as guest speaker at the annual International Conference of the Albanian Atlantic Association, titled an International Cooperation for Peace, Security and Prosperity in South-Eastern Europe. The event is held at the Palace of Congresses, Tirana.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, together with the Bulgaria Foundation, organize a public lecture by Prof. Carl Djerassi, held at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by H.E. Kostyantin Grishchenko, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. The event takes place at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.

May

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a round table titled The Democratic Reconstruction of Iraq: The Role of the International Community and Bulgaria. The event is the seventh round table on Iraq held by The Atlantic Club and the Manfred Wörner Foundation in the last four years, and takes place at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club, jointly with the University of Jacksonville, Florida, organizes a second edition of the business seminar titled Cooperation of Municipalities with Military Base, with the participation of Bulgarian regional governors and city mayors. The seminar also includes visits to the US Central Command (CENTCOM) in Tampa and other US military bases.
The Manfred Wörner Foundation publishes Report #6 of the Security Sector Reform Coalition, an NGO coalition led by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the George C. Marshall Center – Bulgaria. The report, titled NATO Membership and the Challenges Facing the Bulgarian Parliament, is commissioned by the 39th National Assembly.
The Manfred Wörner Foundation organizes its Atlantic Policy Meeting #3 and Atlantic Policy Meeting #4 with the participation of generals attending the US National Defense University courses and graduates of the US National War College.
The VIII Annual Atlantic Lunch of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria is held at the Kempinski Hotel Zografski in Sofia, in the presence of Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Keynote speaker at the event is NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, who is granted the Golden Award of The Atlantic Club for his outstanding contribution to the promotion of Atlantic values and solidarity.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Branch of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) organize the award ceremony of the III Annual Award Migrant of the Year, given to the famous Bulgarian football player Krasimir Balakov. The ceremony, attended by Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov takes place at the National Stadium Vasil Levski in Sofia.
The Chairman of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov takes part as a guest speaker at the International Conference From the Adriatic Charter to Full Membership, organized by the Euro-Atlantic Club of Macedonia.
The Chairman of The Atlantic Club Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov takes part as guest speaker at the IV Conference on Atlanticism organized by the Hungarian Atlantic Council, titled What Now? What Next? Trans-Atlantic Cooperation at a Crossroads: Old Issues and New Answers.

June

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Aikido Association organize an exhibition of Edward Germanov, titled Sho Do Calligraphy, as well as the announcement of Minister Solomon Passy’s II Dan. The event takes place at the Stalbata Gallery, Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the European Institute and the Paneuropa Movement, in cooperation with the EU Delegation in Bulgaria, organize a public lecture by the EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Günter Verheugen. The event is held at Sofia University.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, with the cooperation of the Open Society Institute, organize a four-day training seminar for activists of the newly established Afghanistan Council for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation. The seminar is held in Sofia and Plovdiv.
The Manfred Wörner Foundation organizes its Atlantic Policy Meeting #5 and Atlantic Policy Meeting #6 with the participation of former Prime Minister Ivan Kostov, a group of activists of the Afghanistan Euro-Atlantic Council led by the President of the Council, Mr. Baba Han Aslami, and representatives of the member organizations of the Security Sector Reform Coalition.
The Atlantic Club presents a book titled The Future of the Falkland Islands and Its People, by Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, based on his public lecture given in Stanley, in the Falkland Islands. The event, featuring a special introduction by former President Zhelyu Zhelev and Constitutional Court judge Evgeni Tanchev, takes place at the Central Military Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the Afghanistan Euro-Atlantic Council and the Balkan News Corporation present a new documentary film, Mission Afghanistan, by Venelin Petkov and Ivan Filchev, produced with the cooperation of The Atlantic Club. The event is held at the National Palace of Culture, Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a cocktail reception on the occasion of the establishment of an The Atlantic Club of Iraq, attended by the President of the Iraqi Club, Dr. Khairi Saleh, which takes place at the Kosharite Restaurant, Sofia.
The Club and the Lyudmila Zhivkova – Banner of Peace Foundation, under the auspices of President Georgi Parvanov, organize the III Annual Celebration of the International Children’s Day at the Bells Monument in Sofia. On the occasion, the Speaker of Parliament Prof. Ognyan Gerdzhikov inaugurates a Monument to the Victims of Terrorism, erected with the support of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.
Тhe Burgas Chapter of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a concert of Goran Bregovich, dedicated to Bulgaria’s accession to NATO. The event takes place at the Chernomoretz Stadium in Burgas, and highlightes the Balkan contribution of Bulgaria and Romania to the multicultural values of the Alliance.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Institute of History of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and the Central Military Archives in Veliko Tarnovo, holds a public presentation of the documents collection The Bulgarian-Turkish Relations During the First World War 1914-1918, compiled by Mr. Kemal Eyup, MP. The event takes place at the Central Military Club in Sofia.
А delegation of The Atlantic Club visits the city of Yambol and the Bezmer Air Force Base, on an invitation by the local Governor and the Base Commander. Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov is a keynote speaker at the public discussion titled The New Global Role of NATO and the Place of Bulgaria in it.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a NATO Day in the town of Radnevo. The event includes a public lecture by Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, titled The Challenges in front of Bulgaria, Connected with her Membership in NATO and her Future Membership in the EU, as well as a visit to the Maritsa Iztok coal mines and the Maritsa Iztok II and III power plants.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria launches its newly designed and thoroughly updated website www.natoinfo.bg.
The Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Youth Club organizes a reception at the Lozenets Residence in Sofia on the occasion of the Sofia stop of the Balkan NATO bus. Under the project, implemented by the Euro-Atlantic Club of Macedonia, students from the Balkan countries, including eight activists of the Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Youth Club, pass through Belgrade, Zagreb, Sarajevo, Tirana, Skopje and Sofia on their way to the student summit in Istanbul, organized by the US Atlantic Council and the Atlantic Treaty Association.

July

The US-EU-Bulgaria Action Commission in cooperation with the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria organize a panel on defense procurement and offset policies within the international conference titled NATO Membership: Trade and Investment Opportunities in Southeastern Europe.
The Atlantic Club, in cooperation with the British NGO Links, organizes the Second Plenary Assembly of the Parliament Initiative of Southern Caucasus, including a round table titled The Situation of Southern Caucasus in Changing Europe. The event takes place at the Radisson SAS Hotel, Sofia.
The Manfred Wörner Foundation organizes its Atlantic Policy Meeting #7 with the participation of academics from the Southern Caucasus republics.
The Manfred Wörner Foundation organizes its Atlantic Policy Meeting #8 with the participation of Dr. Rubar S. Sandi.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with The Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and The Bulgarian Economic Chamber, organizes a public discussion of H. E. Patrick Cox, President of the European Parliament, titled The situation of Bulgaria in the renewing European Union. The event takes place at the Sheraton Hotel, Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and The Atlantic Club of Iraq organize a reception on the occasion of the arrival of Dr. Rubar S. Sandi. The event takes place at the Academia Hall, Sofia.
The Atlantic Club and the Pro-Macedonia Club organize a public presentation of the book Macedonia: The Supreme Beauty, by Mrs. Dosta Dimovska, former Vice Prime Minister of Macedonia. The event takes place at the Central Military Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the General Staff of the Bulgarian Army, organize a public discussion of General Richard Myers, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. The event took place at the Sheraton Hotel, Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public presentation of the book Atlantic Solitaire by Mr. Maxim Minchev, Member of the Council, founding member of the Club, and incumbent General Director of the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency. The book presents an amply documented and illustrated history of The Atlantic Club since its establishment in 1991.

2003

January

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by Lithuanian Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture on The Latest Development of the Middle East Peace Process by former Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture on Bulgaria in NATO: The Responsibility for Assumed Obligations by Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha at Sofia’s Kempinski Hotel Zografski (attendance: 500-plus).
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria presents NGO Report No. 4 on The Readiness of Bulgaria to Join NATO, commissioned by the Bulgarian Parliament and prepared by the Security Sector Reform Coalition, an NGO coalition led by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the George C. Marshall Center-Bulgaria. The Coalition also includes the Institute of Euro-Atlantic Security, the University for the National and World Economy, the Institute for Regional and International Studies, the Centre for National Security and Defence Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the Institute for Security Studies and International Relations, Society and Information Foundation.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria hosts the 7th Annual Atlantic Lunch under the auspices of Bulgaria’s Vice President Angel Marin, attended by Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, Honorary President of The Atlantic Club, Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofiyanski and Ambassadors of NATO Member States, at Grand Hotel Bulgaria. The еvent is dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the rescue of Bulgarian Jews from the Holocaust.

February

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a round-table discussion on The International Community Action to Disarm Iraq, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov visits the St. Clement of Ochrida Bulgarian Antarctic Base and the Juan Carlos I Spanish Base on Livingstone Island, in his capacity as Chairman of the Antarctic Place-names Commission of Bulgaria and member of the Inter-Ministerial Working Group on Antarctica, together with the official Bulgarian delegation to Antarctica, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Katya Todorova.

March

The Atlantic Club Chairman and Manfred Woerner Foundation President Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov meets with Falkland Islands Government legislative councillors and delivers a public lecture on The Future of the Falkland Islands and its People, in Stanley, Falkland Islands.
The NATO Information Centre organizes focus groups and seminars on the Implementation of European Standards for the Integration of Ethnic and Cultural Minorities in Bulgarian Armed Forces, sponsored by the Phare Access Programme, in Varna and Plovdiv.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a round-table discussion on The Iraqi Crisis and the Differences of Opinions in the EU, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Manfred Woerner Foundation and the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, in cooperation with the Sofia Branch Office of UNHCR, organize a round-table discussion on The Protection of Human Rights and the Perspective of Creating a Democratic Society in Iraq, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Finnish Embassy, organizes a public lecture by Finland’s Defence Minister Jan-Erik Enestam, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.

April

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy delivers a public lecture on Populism and Justice, organized by The Atlantic Club with the support of the Zhelyu Zhelev Foundation and the Centre for Political Dialogue, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Bulgarian National Television, presents Under the Sign of the Southern Cross, a documentary by Albena Vodenicharova and Emilian Dinov, at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture. The Film tells about the visit of an official Bulgarian delegation to Antarctica in February 2003.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Romanian Embassy in Sofia, organizes a public lecture by Romania’s President Ion Iliescu on Integration and Globalization: a View from Romania, and a promotion of the Bulgarian version of his book of the same title at Sofia’s Kempinski Hotel Zografski.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the Initiative Committee for Democracy in Iraq, and Economic Policy Institute organize a round-table discussion on The Bulgarian Participation in the Rebuilding of Post-war Iraq, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Youth Club, in cooperation with the Resource Center Foundation, organizes a seminar on The Conflict in Iraq and the Role of Bulgaria in the New Security System, at the Bulgarian Haskovski Mineralni Bani Hotel.
The Ministry of Defence, in cooperation with The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Security Sector Reform Coalition, organizes a round-table discussion on The Strategic Defence Review and its Dimensions, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.

May

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Red Cross, under the auspices of Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy organize a charity concert called The Best of Laureate and Voodoo Violin: Vasko Vasilev, at the Ancient Amphitheatre of Plovdiv.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Free University of Bourgas, in cooperation with the Turkish Embassy in Sofia, organize a public lecture by Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, at the Bourgas Free University.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with Saferworld, United Kingdom, organizes a round-table discussion on Bulgaria: Achievements and Challenges in Arms Export Control and Combat of Small Arms Proliferation, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organizes a commemoration of the Centennial of Bulgarian-American diplomatic relations with the participation of US Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, who addresses more than 3,000 people in Sofia’s Knyaz Alexander Battenberg Square.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by Canadian Secretary of State (Central and Eastern Europe and Middle East) Gar Knutson, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and with the participation of NATO Assistant Secretary-General for Public Diplomacy Jean Fournet, organizes a round-table discussion on The New Challenges of NATO: Security, Science and Society, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Aikido Foundation, in cooperation with the Japanese Embassy in Sofia, open an exhibition on Calligraphy and Sumi-e by Hiroshi Tajiri Shihandai, presented in the Exhibition Hall of the Union of Architects in Bulgaria.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Aikido Foundation, in cooperation with the Japanese Embassy in Sofia, under the auspices of Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy and First Dan Aikido, organizes a demonstration of Aikido by Hiroshi Tajiri Shihandai, and the concert Blues and Aikido against drugs by the Poduene Blues Band, at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture on The Evolution of the Public in Art by Anna Grega, Project Director with the Australian Council for the Arts, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Manfred Woerner Foundation, jointly with the Right to Defence Foundation and the Greek Council for Refugees, holds a press conference on Will Bulgaria take advantage of the growing flow of immigrants and refugees? at the Sofia Press Agency. The event includes the presentation of legal and sociological reports on immigration to Bulgaria, part of a project sponsored by the Phare Access Programme.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the German Marshall Fund of the United States, organizes a seminar on the Integration Period after the Prague Summit: Upcoming Challenges, at Varna’s Festival and Congress Centre.

June

On occasion of the World Refugee Day, the Manfred Woerner Foundation and the Sofia Branch Office of UNHCR organize a press conference on the Integration of Immigrants and Refugees in Bulgarian Society.
The Manfred Woerner Foundation holds a training seminar for immigrant and refugee NGO activists and community leaders in Varna under the Phare Access Programme.
Former US Ambassador to Bulgaria Avis T. Bohlen delivers a public lecture, organized by The Atlantic Club, at Sofia’s Central Military Club.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Lyudmila Zhivkova – Banner of Peace Foundation, in cooperation with the National Educational Complex of Culture, and under the auspices of Bulgaria’s President Georgi Parvanov, organize a celebration of the International Children’s Day. During the event, held at The Bells Monument in Sofia, the newly established Future of Bulgaria Academy is inaugurated by commending six children for their internationally recognized outstanding achievements in science, arts and sport, with their names engraved on a special wall of the Monument.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria presents NGO Report No. 5 on The Readiness of Bulgaria to Join NATO, commissioned by the Bulgarian Parliament and prepared by the Security Sector Reform Coalition.
The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov participates in the 26th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Madrid as member of the Bulgarian delegation.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Youth Club, organizes the AAYPL General Assembly: NATO after Prague: Transformation, New Members, Opportunities and Participation.

July

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, jointly with the Euro-Atlantic Club of Vratsa, organizes the America Day celebrations on occasion of 4th of July, US Independence Day, in Vratsa.
The Atlantic Club’s Plovdiv Chapter organizes a round-table discussion on National Security and Regional Development: The Case of Eastern Europe, at Plovdiv’s St. Petersburg Hotel.
The Manfred Woerner Foundation holds a regional press conference on the integration of immigrants and refugees in Bulgaria, and the need of new immigration policies, in Haskovo, within a project sponsored by the Phare Access Programme.
The Manfred Woerner Foundation holds a regional press conference on the integration of immigrants and refugees in Bulgaria, and the need of new immigration policies, at Bourgas’s Bulgaria Hotel.
The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, participates in a discussion on the Communication Strategy of Bulgaria’s Membership of NATO, organized by the NGO Centre in Bourgas and The Atlantic Club Bourgas Chapter.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Bulgarian Diplomatic Association, organizes a public lecture on Croatia on the Way to the EU by Croatia’s President Stjepan Mesic, at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by Geoffrey Van Orden MEP, Rapporteur on Bulgaria at the European Parliament, at Sofia’s Kempinski Hotel Zografski.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a ceremony of presentation to Shefket Chapadjiev of Migrant of the Year Award from the International Organization for Migration Country Mission in Bulgaria, at Sofia’s The Earth and Man National Museum.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Center for the Study of Democracy organize a farewell party in honour of Roderick Moore, US Deputy Chief of Mission in Sofia, attended by Bulgarian Foreign Minister, Solomon Passy, at the Center for the Study of Democracy.

August

The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov gives a joint press conference with Former Iraqi interim Foreign Minister Mohammed Amin, visiting Bulgaria at The Atlantic Club invitation, at Varna’s Festival and Congress Centre.

September

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Danish Embassy in Sofia, organizes a public lecture on The Trans-Atlantic Relations and the Enlargement of NATO and EU by Denmark’s Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, at Sofia’s Kempinski Hotel Zografski.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a ceremony of presentation to NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson of Bulgarian civil society’s Atlantic Solidarity Award, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel. The Prize, instituted by the Manfred Woerner Foundation, is awarded by a jury comprising representatives of Security Sector Reform Coalition led by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the George C. Marshall Center-Bulgaria.
The NATO Information Centre and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organize a conference on Modern Arms Export Control in the Process of Bulgaria’s Accession to NATO, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the NATO Information Centre organize a conference on the Implementation of European Standards for Integration of Ethnic and Cultural Minorities in the Bulgarian Army, under a project supported by the Phare Access Programme, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The NATO Information Centre organizes a regional Round-Table Discussion on The US Role and Regional Cooperation in Southeast Europe: Challenges ahead after Prague on the Way to NATO and EU.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Open Society Foundation organize a US-Bulgarian Conference commemorating the Centennial of Bulgarian-American diplomatic relations, on Bulgarian-American relations: The Way Ahead, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Manfred Woerner Foundation, jointly with the Right to Defence Foundation and the Greek Council for Refugees, organize a round-table discussion on the need of new immigration policies in Bulgaria, under a project sponsored by the Phare Access Programme, at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture.

October

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the UK Embassy in Sofia, organize a public lecture by the UK Minister for Europe Dennis McShane, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Czech Embassy in Sofia, organize a public lecture by the Czech Republic’s Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Manfred Woerner Foundation organizes an inaugural conference of the National Association of Immigrants in Bulgaria, at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria publishes a brochure entitled Bulgarian-American Relations: The Way Ahead, comprising addresses by dignitaries at the September US-Bulgarian Conference commemorating a Centennial of Bulgarian-American diplomatic relations.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) of Washington, D.C., launch an institutional partnership aimed at establishing a US-Bulgaria Action Commission.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by Lord Howell of Guildford, Conservative Party official and Foreign Policy Spokesman in the House of Lords, on A Europe of Equals, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, jointly with the Bulgarian Diplomatic Society and the Center for the Study of Democracy, organizes a public lecture on Advancing Democracy: Challenges of the Future by Switzerland’s President Pascal Couchepin, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.

November

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Committee for Solidarity and Support of the Bulgarian Contingent in Karbala, Iraq, organize a public lecture by Karbala Mayor Akram Mahdi, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
A delegation led by The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov participates in an annual ATA General Assembly in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria presents NGO Report No. 6 on The Readiness of Bulgaria to Join NATO, commissioned by the Bulgarian Parliament and prepared by the Security Sector Reform Coalition, NGO coalition led by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the George C. Marshall Center – Bulgaria.
The Manfred Woerner Foundation and The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria publish a brochure entitled The Future of the Falkland Islands and its People, comprising a lecture delivered by The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, in Stanley, Falkland Islands, as well as relevant comments by politicians, scientists and analysts from all over the world.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a remake of a dinner that brought Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and Club members together in Lisbon five years ago.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Security Sector Reform Coalition, jointly with the American Center in Sofia, organize a round-table discussion on Parliamentary Control of the Security Sector and the Role of Civil Society as a Key Element of Civil-Military Relations, with the participation of Prof. Gregory Foster of the US Industrial College of Armed Forces, at Sofia’s American Center.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria launches a redesigned and thoroughly updated website, www.natoinfo.bg.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the NATO Information Centre organize a round-table Discussion on One year after the NATO Prague Summit, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel. The event includes award ceremonies of the student contest of the Euro-Atlantic Youth Club, and of The Atlantic Club Golden Award.

2002

January

Bulgaria’s President Georgi Parvanov addresses The Atlantic Club in a lecture on The Foreign Policy Priorities of Bulgaria, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel (attendance: 1,000-plus).
Turkey’s Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit addresses The Atlantic Club in a lecture on Global Challenges to Security and Stability: The Balkan Dimension, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel (attendance: 500-plus).
The Atlantic Club organizes a seminar on Implementation of European and Atlantic Security Standards and its Effect on Bulgarian Society, in Plovdiv.

February

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria hosts the 6th Annual Atlantic Lunch, under the auspices of Bulgaria’s Vice President Angel Marin, attended by NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, Honorary President of The Atlantic Club, Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofiyanski and Ambassadors of NATO and PfP countries.
NATO Day in Plovdiv, organized by The Atlantic Club, with the participation of France’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Jean-Loup Kuhn-Delforge. A hall at the Plovdiv Fair Congress Centre is named “Atlantic Hall”.
Italian Foreign Trade Minister Adolfo Urso addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the George C. Marshall Center-Bulgaria and the Centre for National Security and Defence Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Science organize a round-table discussion on C4 Systems and the Invitation to Join NATO in 2002 – Key Projects and Technologies: the Role of Administration, Business and Academic Sector.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a round-table discussion on Bulgaria’s Decision to Join NATO: 5 Years Later, attended by Bulgaria’s ex-President Zhelyu Zhelev and Sofia Mayor and ex-Prime Minister Stefan Sofiyanski, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a ceremony for the presentation of the Black Belt (First Dan) to Solomon Passy for promoting Aikido in Bulgaria. A Demonstration of Aikido and a calligraphy by Shihanday Tadzhiri Sensey follows.
The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov participates as a key-note speaker in the Conference on Ethnic Conflict in Southeast Europe in Ljubljana, sponsored by the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies.
The Atlantic Club organizes a seminar on the Implementation of European and Atlantic Security Standards and its Effect on Bulgarian Society in Plovdiv.
NGO Report No. 1 on The Readiness of Bulgaria to Join NATO, commissioned by the Bulgarian Parliament and prepared by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria jointly with the George C. Marshall Association, the Manfred Woerner Foundation, the Centre for National Security and the Defence Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the Economic Policy Institute, the Institute for Regional and International Studies, the Institute for Security and International Studies, the NATO Defence College Alumni Association and the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies Alumni Association. Report presented to NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson during his visit to Sofia.

March

General Joseph Ralston, SACEUR, addresses The Atlantic Club in a lecture on NATO Enlargement and the Role of Bulgaria in Regional Stability, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel (attendance: 500-plus).
US Committee on NATO President Bruce P. Jackson addresses The Atlantic Club at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a round-table discussion on NATO, the United States and Bulgaria, with the special participation of the International Affairs Advisor to SACEUR Michael Durkee, at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
Dr. Glenda Rosenthal of Columbia University addresses The Atlantic Club in a lecture on European Security and Defence Policy – the US Perspective, in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov invites members of the newly established Presidential Council on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration to join the Club.

April

The Spanish Ambassador to the EU’s Special Mission on Enlargement Jorge Fuentes addresses The Atlantic Club in a lecture on Bulgaria – a Look from Brussels and Madrid, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel (attendance: 500-plus).
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a round-table discussion on The American Decisions before Prague 2002, with the special participation of Dr. John Hulsman, Research Fellow in European Affairs at the Heritage Foundation, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
NATO Day in Bourgas, organized by The Atlantic Club, with the participation of Turkey’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Haydar Berk and Bourgas’ Mayor Yoan Kostadinov. The Gallup International report on public attitudes toward defence reforms, commissioned by The Atlantic Club, is presented at a public meeting in Bourgas.
Seminar on the Implementation of European and Atlantic Security Standards and its Effect on Bulgarian Society, held in Bourgas.
On occasion of the 11th birthday of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the 53rd anniversary of the Washington Treaty, a concert is held at the Opera House in Bourgas and is attended by Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, Honorary President of The Atlantic Club.
A Club delegation, led by The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov attends the 12th International Antalya Conference on Security and Cooperation, held in Turkey, where a Joint Statement supporting the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to NATO is issued by the national Atlantic associations of Turkey, Greece, Romania and Bulgaria.
NATO Day in Blagoevgrad, organized by The Atlantic Club, with the participation of the Turkish Ambassador to Bulgaria Haydar Berk, at the American University in Bulgaria.
Seminar on the Implementation of European and Atlantic Security Standards and its Effect on Bulgarian Society, in Varna.
Conference on Citizens in Uniform – Protection of Their Social and Legal Rights, organized by the Manfred Woerner Foundation and the Rakovski Bulgarian Officers Legion Confederation, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club launches the Lobby for Bulgaria in NATO: Now! initiative, supported by Bulgaria’s President Georgi Parvanov and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Initiative encourages Bulgarian communities in all NATO Member States to lobby their respective parliaments and governments to support Bulgaria’s membership of the Alliance.
The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov participates as a key-note speaker in the NATO’s Enlargement Workshop in Prague, sponsored by the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

May

Former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev addresses The Atlantic Club at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel (attendance: 500-plus).
Council of Europe Secretary-General Walter Schwimmer addresses The Atlantic Club at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel (attendance: large).
A Club delegation participates in a Bulgarian Easter ceremony held at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture. At the meeting, Bulgarians living both in Bulgaria and abroad discuss together with Cabinet members the future of Bulgaria’s welfare, economic prosperity, as well as stability and security issues. Lobby for Bulgaria in NATO: Now! initiative presented at the meeting.
Seminar on the Implementation of European and Atlantic Security Standards and its Effect on Bulgarian Society held in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov participates in a Spring Meeting of the ATA Council in Brussels.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria initiates a National Committee for Welcoming His Holiness Pope John Paul II in Bulgaria during an official visit by His Holiness Pope John Paul II to Bulgaria. The Atlantic Club plays a significant role in the arrangement of two principal events in Sofia involving public appearances of His Holiness: a mass rally is held on Saint Alexander Nevsky Square, together with a concert marking the Day of Slav Literature and Bulgarian Culture, held at the National Palace of Culture.
The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov participates as key-note speaker at the International Conference on The Security Challenges in South East Europe, organized by The Atlantic Club of Yugoslavia in Belgrade.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the Lyudmila Zhivkova – Banner of Peace Foundation and the National Education Complex of Culture organize an inauguration ceremony of a Memorial Bell NATO in Service of Peace at The Bells Monument, Sofia, in presence of the Secretary General and delegates to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, held in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov participates as a key-note speaker in the US-Russian conference on The Euro-Atlantic Integration and Russia after September 11th, held in Moscow.
NGO Report No. 2 on The Readiness of Bulgaria to Join NATO, commissioned by the Bulgarian Parliament and prepared by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria jointly with the George C. Marshall Association, the Manfred Woerner Foundation, the Centre for National Security and Defence Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the Economic Policy Institute, the Institute for Regional and International Studies, the Institute for Security and International Studies, the NATO Defence College Alumni Association and the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies Alumni Association. Report circulated at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly held in Sofia.

June

The Atlantic Club organizes a public lecture by the US Permanent Representative to the UN, John Negroponte, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
UK Defence Secretary Geoffrey Hoon delivers a public lecture before a large audience at Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, at Sofia’s Kempinski Hotel Zografski (attendance: 500-plus).
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the International Aikido Association and the Bulgarian Aikido Foundation organize a demonstration of Aikido by Shihandai Andi Sato, at Sofia’s Bulgarian Army Theatre.
Official promotion of the film How Europe Entered Bulgaria, organized by The Atlantic Club, at the Concert Hall of Sofia’s Central Military Club.
The Manfred Woerner Foundation, The Atlantic Club and the Sofia Branch Office of UNHCR, in cooperation with the Agency for Refugees and under the auspices of Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha holds a round table on Refugees: A Positive Contribution to Development, at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture.
The Atlantic Club organizes an official promotion of the film From Assisi to Sofia: The Pope on Bulgarian Land during a visit by His Holiness John Paul II to Bulgaria at Sofia’s Central Military Club.

July

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture on Strategic Impacts and Consequences of World War Against Terrorism by Israel’s ex-Prime Minister Ehud Barak before a large audience, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by General Nikola Kolev, Chief of the General Staff of the Bulgarian Armed Forces, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov participates as an official invited guest at the inauguration of Albania’s newly elected President Alfred Moisiu, in Tirana.
NATO Day in Varna, organized by The Atlantic Club. A Square and a monument in the city centre are named “Atlantic Solidarity.”
The Atlantic Club organizes seminars on the Implementation of European and Atlantic Security Standards and its Effect on Bulgarian Society, in Varna and Bourgas.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a Round-Table Discussion on Bulgaria – Half a Year Non-Permanent Member of the UN Security Council, with the participation of ATA Chairman Alan Lee Williams, OBE, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the George C. Marshall Association, in cooperation with the Geneva Center for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces, organizes a workshop on The Reform of the Defence Industry, in Sofia.

August

NATO Day in Dospat, organized by The Atlantic Club, with the participation of Denmark’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Christian Faber-Rod. One of the town squares is named “NATO.” A Chapter of The Atlantic Club is founded in Dospat.

September

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by the US Ambassador to Bulgaria James W. Pardew at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
Round-table discussion on Bulgaria and NATO: 12 Years After and 12 Weeks Before, organized by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria in cooperation with the Open Society Foundation, with the participation of Bulgaria’s ex-President Zhelyu Zhelev, Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, Honorary President of The Atlantic Club, and Roderick Moore, US Deputy Chief of Mission in Sofia, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
Dr. Kemal Beyoghlow, Professor of International Relations and National Security at the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, delivers a public lecture on War Against Terrorism at the American Center in Sofia, organized by the Center and The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.
The Atlantic Club organizes a seminar on the Implementation of European and Atlantic Security Standards and its Effect on Bulgarian Society in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with Pazardjik Municipality, organizes the Movie Bridge NATO-Bulgaria Film Festival, under the auspices of US Ambassador to Bulgaria James W. Pardew, in Pazardjik.

October

A Club delegation, led by The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, participates in the 48th ATA General Assembly in Istanbul. Bulgarian Foreign Minister, Solomon Passy, Honorary President of The Atlantic Club, joins the delegation.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a Round-Table Discussion on NATO Enlargement and the Process of Adapting the Alliance to the New Security Challenges in Sofia. British Government Report Iraqi Mass Destruction Weapons is published in Bulgarian by the Club and presented at the event. A round-table discusses the prospects for Bulgarian participation in possible Allied actions against the present Iraqi regime.
The Atlantic Club organizes a farewell party in honour of Greece’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Michael Christides.
Official launch of the Academic Refugee Studies Programme Initiative in Bulgaria, organized jointly by the Sofia Branch Office of the UNHCR and The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria on United Nations Day.
NGO Report No. 3 on The Readiness of Bulgaria to Join NATO, commissioned by the Bulgarian Parliament and prepared by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria jointly with the George C. Marshall Association, the Manfred Woerner Foundation, the Centre for National Security and Defence Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the Economic Policy Institute, the Institute for Regional and International Studies, the Institute for Security and International Studies, the NATO Defence College Alumni Association and the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies Alumni Association.
Round-Table Discussion on Terrorism Without Boundaries: Moscow Between New York and Prague, organized by The Atlantic Club, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a public lecture by Romania’s Prime Minister Adrian Nastase, at Sofia’s Kempinski Hotel Zografski.
The Atlantic Club organizes a farewell party in honour of Israel’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Emanuel Zisman.
Public lecture by Polish Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, organized by The Atlantic Club, at Sofia’s National Archaeological Museum.

November

Round-table discussion and presentation of NGO Report No. 3 on The Readiness of Bulgaria to Join NATO, commissioned by the Bulgarian Parliament and prepared by the NGO coalition led by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria. The presentation is held in the National Assembly, co-organized by The Atlantic Club and the Parliamentary Foreign Policy, Defence and Security Committee.
NATO Day in Panagyurishte, organized by The Atlantic Club, with the participation of Poland’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Jaroslaw Lindenberg. Optics Plant in Panagyurishte named “Atlantic.”
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a round-table discussion on The UN Security Council and Iraq: The Chance for Peace, with the participation of Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, Honorary President of The Atlantic Club, and ambassadors from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture.
The Atlantic Club organizes a public lecture by Romanian Defence Minister Ioan Mircea Pascu, at Sofia’s Kempinski Hotel Zografski.
A Club delegation, led by The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov attends the NATO Summit in Prague.
On occasion of a NATO Summit in Prague, The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, jointly with the Manfred Woerner Foundation, the NATO Information Centre and the Euro-Atlantic Youth Club, organizes the festive Atlantic Idea Celebration in Sofia, where an Atlantic Club Golden Award is presented to 12 persons for their outstanding contribution to the advancement of the Atlantic idea in Bulgaria.
The Atlantic Club Chairman Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov is invited as a key-note speaker to the 12th Zappeion International Symposium, organized by the GAAEC in Athens.

December

The Atlantic Club organizes a public lecture by Boris Y. Nemtsov, Floor Leader of the Union of Rightist Forces Group in the Russian State Duma, at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
Round-table discussion on The Future of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Bulgarian Chairmanship-in-Office, organized by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with the Open Society Foundation, organizes the round-table discussion on Bulgaria at the Security Council: the First Year Summed Up, attended by Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, Honorary President of The Atlantic Club. US Representative for Special Policy Questions at the UN Richard Williamson is a guest speaker at the event.

2001

January

The Atlantic Club organizes the National Committee on the Organization of Visit to Bulgaria by Pope John Paul II.
The Sandanski Municipal Council accepts the proposal of The Atlantic Club to name the town’s central square “Atlantic Alliance Plaza”.
NATO Day in Sandanski. Organized by The Atlantic Club, with the support of the UK, Greek, Portuguese and Polish Embassies in Sofia. Atlantic Alliance Plaza naming ceremony in downtown Sandanski.

February

UK Minister of State for Armed Forces John Spellar addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
The 165th anniversary of a Church in Chirpan is co-sponsored by The Atlantic Club.

March

The Atlantic Club hosts the Annual Atlantic Lunch for Bulgaria’s Vice President Todor Kavaldjiev, Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofiyanski and Ambassadors of NATO Member States.
The Stone Group, Inc., President Ann Stone addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
General Joseph Baril, Chief of the Canadian Defence Staff, addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club organizes a farewell party in honour of Spain’s Ambassador to Bulgaria, Jose Coderch Planas, NATO Point of Contact.

April

Bulgarian Posts issue a commemorative postage stamp to mark the 10th birthday of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the 10th anniversary of the Atlantic movement in Central and Eastern Europe. Formal introduction ceremony for the postal issue attended by Bulgarian Transport and Communications Minister Antoni Slavinski. Stamp designed by Prof. Todor Vardjiev, produced in quantity of 30,000 stamps and face value of BGN 0.65.
Gala concert held at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture to mark the 52nd anniversary of NATO and 10th birthday of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, attended by Bulgaria’s President Peter Stoyanov, Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofiyanski and 4,000 Club members and friends. Pope John Paul II, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Ivan Kostov, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, NATO Secretary Lord George Robertson, Croatia’s President Stipe Mesic, US Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, Bulgarian Defence Minister Boyko Noev, General Miho Mihov, Chief of Staff of the Bulgarian Army, and former UK Defence Secretary Michael Portillo cabled greetings.
Concert followed by a reception at Sofia’s Central Military Club, hosted by The Atlantic Club President Dr. Solomon Passy.
Norwegian Defence Minister, Bjorn Tore Godal, delivers a lecture to The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes two international conferences: Globalization and NATO in the 21st Century and Youth for United Europe and NATO, to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of NATO and the 10th birthday of The Atlantic Club in Bulgaria. Conferences co-sponsored by NATO, the German Marshall Fund of the United States and the Atlantic Treaty Association.
NATO Day in Pazardjik, organized by The Atlantic Club, with the support of the Danish and US Embassies in Sofia. A new bridge in the city is ceremoniously named Atlantic.

June

AJC Director of International Jewish Affairs Rabbi Andrew Baker addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
NATO Day in Rousse. Organized by The Atlantic Club, with the support of the Hungarian, US and Romanian Embassies in Sofia.
US Media Consultant Thomas Oppel addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.

July

General Rolando Mosca Moschini, Italian Chief of Defence Staff, addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.

August

Ian Brzezinski, Senior Professional Staff Member, US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
Former UN Secretary General and incumbent Secretary General of the International Organization of the Francophonie Boutros Boutros-Ghali addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.

September

Senator Richard G. Lugar (Rep-Ind.) addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia for a second time, after being the Club’s guest of honour in 1999. In the evening, the Senator delivers the dinner speech in presence of Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, before an audience made up by The Atlantic Club Council members, Government officials, MPs, editors-in-chief of Bulgaria’s principal newspapers, business persons and Atlantic Club friends.
The Atlantic Club organizes a farewell party in honour of the Netherlands Ambassador to Bulgaria W. Theo Six.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Anatoly Zlenko addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
Canadian National Defence Minister Arthur Eggleton addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.

October

Palestinian Authority Planning and International Cooperation Minister Nabil Shaath addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club organizes a farewell party in honour of UK Ambassador to Bulgaria Richard Stagg.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a round-table discussion on NATO vs. Global Terrorism.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes the International Conference on NATO’s New Agenda: One Year before the Summit.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a round-table discussion on Bulgaria after October 4th. Address by Bulgaria’s President Peter Stoyanov, delivered to participants in the discussion. The Foreign Minister Solomon Passy attends the round-table discussion.

November

The Atlantic Club organizes a round-table discussion on Terrorism, Cultures and Religions in collaboration with the Bulgarian Centre for Middle East Studies.
A Club delegation visits Belgrade, attends the inauguration of The Atlantic Club of Yugoslavia and a lecture delivered by the Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy.
French Defence Minister Alain Richard addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
Club representatives attend the GAAEC Conference in Athens. Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy is a guest of honour.

December

NATO Day in Shoumen. Organized by The Atlantic Club, with the support of the Shoumen Regional Governor and the Spanish, US and UK Embassies in Sofia.
Bulgarian-Ukrainian conference on The South and Eastern European Countries’ Route to European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, organized by The Atlantic Club with the support of the Ukrainian Embassy in Sofia and Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
First meeting on the Phare ACCESS Programme, organized by The Atlantic Club.

Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Alvaro Gil-Robles addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.

2000

January

Ambassador Richard Schifter, Special Adviser to US President Clinton and to the US Secretary of State, addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club’s Bourgas Chapter participates in seminars organized by the Bourgas Municipality and the NATO Institute.

February

NATO Secretary General, Lord George Robertson addresses The Atlantic Club Board and Staff members at a breakfast meeting in Sofia.
The Manfred Woerner Foundation and Zoroastar-Bulgaria Foundation organize an academic conference on Future of Iraqi Kurdistan.
Mohawk Council of Kahnawake Chief Joseph Tokwiro Norton addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club’s Bourgas Chapter hosts the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake Chief, Joseph Tokwiro Norton, in Bourgas.
The Atlantic Club’s Bourgas Chapter organizes a commemoration for the anniversary of the 1913 Battle of Adrianople, in cooperation with the Bulgarian Army Foundation.

March

General Wesley K. Clark, SACEUR, addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
The UK Permanent Representative to NATO Sir John Goulden addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club hosts the Annual Atlantic Lunch for Bulgaria’s Vice President Todor Kavaldjiev, Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofiyanski and Ambassadors of NATO Member States.
ACYPL delegation visits Bulgaria, hosted by the Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Youth Club. Guests meet Bulgaria’s President Peter Stoyanov and Foreign Minister Nadezhda Mihailova and visit Varna and Plovdiv.
The Atlantic Club, the Centre for Liberal Strategies, the RAND Corporation, the International Centre for Policy Studies (Ukraine) and the Europe XXI Foundation (Ukraine) organize an Ukrainian-Bulgarian-American Conference on Ukraine, Bulgaria and the Integration Process in Countries of Southern and Eastern Europe.
NATO Day in Radnevo. Organized by The Atlantic Club and the Spanish Embassy in Sofia.
Joost Lagendijk MEP, Special Rapporteur on the Stability Pact at the European Parliament, meets The Atlantic Club Board and Staff members at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club Bourgas Chapter inaugurates the EU Information Centre in Bourgas.

April

Annual Atlantic Reception on occasion of the 9th birthday of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the 51st anniversary of NATO, attended by Bulgaria’s President Peter Stoyanov.
Farewell party for Chris Dell, US Deputy Chief of Mission in Sofia and Club Honorary Director, is organized by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.
The Atlantic Club Rousse Chapter holds a NATO Day in Rousse, with support from the Canadian Embassy.

May

The Atlantic Education Committee Spring Seminar is held in Sofia. The seminar is organized by The Atlantic Club, with the support of the NATO HQ. The NATO Information Centre Director Ivan Sotirov is elected Vice-President of AEC.
Participation in the 94th Annual Meeting of the American Jewish Committee in Washington, D.C.
World Aikido Association President Shihan Fumio Toyoda addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
NATO Day in Veliko Turnovo. Organized by The Atlantic Club, with the support of the UK Embassy in Sofia.

June

Slovakia’s Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
A Round-Table Discussion on Bulgarian Consensus on NATO, organized by The Atlantic Club. All Floor Leaders of parliamentary parties take part in discussions: Ekaterina Mihaylova of the UDF, Georgi Parvanov of the BSP, Ahmed Dogan of the DPS, Alexander Tomov of the Euro-Left, Anastasia Moser of the Bulgarian Agrarian Popular Union, and Vladimir Djaferov of the Democratic Party.

July

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Ivan Kostov addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
Bulgarian Deputy Defence Minister Velizar Shalamanov, Interior Ministry Chief Secretary Bozhidar Popov, Parliamentary Integration and Foreign Policy Committee Chairman Asen Agov, Elena Poptodorova of Euro-Left and representatives from a wide range of NGOs take part in a round-table discussion on the Government’s 1999 Annual National Security Report.
The Atlantic Club’s Bourgas Chapter participates in a round-table discussion on The Optimal Strategy of Partnership between Citizens and Local Authorities in Bulgaria under the Partners for Local Development Programme.

August

The Atlantic Club’s Bourgas Chapter participates in a public ecological campaign for the protection of Vormos Bay.

September

Carla Del Ponte, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.

October

NATO Secretary General Lord George Robertson addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
Croatia’s President Stipe Mesic addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
A Club delegation participates in the 46th ATA General Assembly in Budapest.
The Atlantic Club organizes a lecture by the NATO Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs, Ambassador Klaus-Peter Klaiber.
General Henry H. Shelton, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
Danish Foreign Minister Niels Helveg Petersen addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.

November

NATO Military Committee Chairman Admiral Guido Venturoni addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
Hungary’s Permanent Representative to NATO Ambassador Andras Simonyi addresses The Atlantic Club Board and Staff members in Sofia.
Selection of 2001 Bulgarian Marshall fellows – a programme of the German Marshall Fund of the United States coordinated by the Manfred Woerner Foundation.
Meeting between The Atlantic Club and the US Embassy in Bulgaria, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of a fine relationship between the two institutions.
On occasion of the 6th anniversary of the audience of The Atlantic Club with Pope John Paul II and the 119th birth anniversary of Pope John XXIII (Angelo Roncalli), The Atlantic Club organizes the presentation of Benediction, a documentary by the Bulgarian film director Lyubomir Halachev. The film tells about the life and works of Pope John XXIII (Monsignor Angelo Roncalli) and especially about his mission as Apostolic Delegate to Bulgaria (1925-1934).
The Atlantic Club and Radio Deutsche Welle organize a round-table discussion on Bulgaria, the Balkans and Germany at the Beginning of the 21st Century.
Multi-ethnic jazz concert of the Balkan Horses Bands, co-sponsored by The Atlantic Club.

December

US Committee on NATO President Bruce P. Jackson addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia in the third of a series of speeches.
Israel’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Emanuel Zisman addresses the Manfred Woerner Foundation and The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
The Haskovo Municipal Council accepts the proposal of The Atlantic Club’s Haskovo Chapter to name the city’s central square “Atlantic Plaza”.
NATO Day in Haskovo, organized by The Atlantic Club, with the support of the Greek, Polish, Hungarian and US Embassies in Sofia. Atlantic Plaza naming ceremony in downtown Haskovo.
The Polish Embassy in Sofia and The Atlantic Club organize a public lecture by Poland’s Centre for Eastern Studies Director Professor Marek Karp.
Annual meeting of The Atlantic Club General Assembly and Annual Christmas Reception.
Release of a new album of the Bulgarian vocal trio Antibiotica, organized by The Atlantic Club.

1999

January

The Club participates in an ATA Bureau meeting in Brussels.
A photo exhibition on Hungary on the Way to NATO is held with the co-sponsorship of the Hungarian Embassy in Sofia.
A photo exhibition dedicated to the 50th anniversary of NATO, co-sponsored by Netherlands Embassy in Sofia (NATO Contact Point), is held.
Lieutenant General Jiri Sedivy, Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic, addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
Board Members meet Denmark’s Social Democratic Party International Secretary, Eric Boel, at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
The press launch of The Polish Political Scene, a book published on occasion of Poland’s accession to NATO, is held with the co-sponsorship of the Polish Embassy in Sofia.
An inter-institutional seminar, initiating the project Information Strategy for Bulgaria’s Euro-Atlantic Integration: the Role of Non-governmental Organizations, is held with the co-sponsorship of the Phare Democracy Programme.

February

Macedonia’s Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski delivers a public lecture before The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria (attendance: 2,000-plus).
The Atlantic Club hosts the Annual Atlantic Lunch for Bulgaria’s Vice President, Todor Kavaldjiev, Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofiyanski and Ambassadors of NATO Member States.
NATO Day in Bourgas. An international seminar on Society and Armed Forces: Interrelations, Control and Transparency is held as part of the project Democratic Control of the Armed Forces, sponsored by the Phare Democracy Programme.
NATO Day in Plovdiv. A number of events (seminars, press conferences and a photo exhibition) are organized to mark the 50th anniversary of NATO, co-sponsored by the Mayor of Plovdiv and by the Plovdiv Regional Governor.
Atlantic Council of USA Counselor Elizabeth Pond, journalist of the Christian Science Monitor, addresses The Atlantic Club members and guests in presence of the US Ambassador to Bulgaria Avis T. Bohlen at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria gives a reception on occasion of the NATO seminar on NATO Security Investment Program.
A press launch of New Dimensions of Freedom, a book by the popular Bulgarian author and journalist Alexander Andreev is held and followed by a concert of the world-famous orchestra of composer Goran Bregovic.
A group of servicemen trainees from the Centre for Strategic Studies and Foreign Language Instruction visit the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
Participation in the 999 Stoke Rochford Conference in Grantham, UK.

March

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria co-organizes a Junior World Championship & World Cup Finals in Ski Orientieering in Yundola (between Mt Rila and the Rhodopi Mountains).
The Atlantic Club co-sponsors an exhibition of oil paintings by Kiril Bozhilov.
World Aikido Association President Shihan Fumio Toioda delivers a lecture before The Atlantic Club.
The Atlantic Club presents a newsletter issued by the NATO Information Centre in Sofia on occasion of Poland’s accession to NATO. The newsletter is published under the project Information Strategy for Bulgaria’s Euro-Atlantic Integration: the Role of Non-governmental Organizations, co-sponsored by Phare Democracy Programme through the Civil Society Development Foundation.
Release of commemorative postage stamp dedicated to the 50th anniversary of NATO.
Exhibition of postal, philatelic and numismatic items dedicated to NATO, at the Grand Hall of the General Post Office in Sofia.
The NATO Information Centre in Sofia organizes an essay contest for university students on NATO and the World in the 21st Century.
Presidential Rose Roth Seminar on Regional Security Cooperation in Southeast Europe takes place in Borovets. The seminar is organized by the Bulgarian Parliament and co-sponsored by NATO and NATO Parliamentary Assembly. The Atlantic Club and the NATO Information Centre co-sponsor the photo exhibition Bulgaria on the Way to NATO.
The Atlantic Club co-organizes a series of seminars sponsored by the EU Phare Democracy Programme on the project Civilian Control of the Armed Forces for Protection of the Young People on Military Service. The first seminar takes place in Kazanluk.
French students visit the NATO Information Centre in Sofia as part of the project on the 50th anniversary of NATO.
Participation in the Athens International Conference NATO’s Second Half Century in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of NATO.

April

NATO Day in Sofia. Commemorative Gala Concert of Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra dedicated to the 50th anniversary of NATO and the 8th birthday of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, organized by The Atlantic Club and the Mayor of Sofia. Gala Concert attended by Bulgaria’s President Peter Stoyanov and NATO Deputy Secretary General Sergio Balanzino. The Atlantic Club President Dr. Solomon Passy hosts a reception on occasion of the 8th birthday of the Club.
NATO Day in Smolyan. Third seminar on Society and Armed Forces: Interrelations, Control and Transparency. The Seminar is part of a project Democratic Control of the Armed Forces, sponsored by the Phare Democracy Programme.
UK House of Lords Member Lord Geoffrey Howe of Aberavon delivers a public lecture before The Atlantic Club.
Hewlett-Packard Vice President and General Executive Director for South-Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa Franz Nawratil delivers a lecture before The Atlantic Club.

May

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair delivers a lecture before The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.
Participation in the 93rd Annual Meeting of the American Jewish Committee in Washington, D.C.
Major General Henry Albert Kievenaar, Jr. visits the NATO Information Centre in Sofia and addresses The Atlantic Club Board of Directors members and guests.
Bulgarian-US Conference dedicated to the 50th anniversary of NATO: NATO in its Mid-Centenary: The Global Mission of the Alliance in the 21st Century. The Conference is organized by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the American Center in Sofia and co-sponsored by the NATO Headquarters.
NATO Day in Karlovo. Organized by The Atlantic Club, with the support of NATIP, the Belgian Embassy, the US Embassy and the Netherlands Embassy in Sofia. Opening of the photo exhibition NATO at 50. Free discussion on NATO’s New Mission and Security in South-Eastern Europe.
NATO Day in Varna. Organized by The Atlantic Club, with the support of NATIP, the Danish Embassy, the US Embassy and the Netherlands Embassy in Sofia. Opening of the photo exhibition NATO at 50. Free discussion on NATO’s New Mission and Security in South-Eastern Europe.

June

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and Harris-Bulgaria organize a Farewell Garden Party in honour of the US Ambassador to Bulgaria Avis T. Bohlen.
The Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Youth Club (BEAYC) and The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organize the AAYPL General Assembly in Sofia and Varna under the honorary patronage of the Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nadezhda Mihaylova. The Forum commemorates the 50th anniversary of NATO and is held for the first time in a non-NATO member country.
Senator Richard G. Lugar (Rep-Ind.) delivers a speech before The Atlantic Club.
NATO Day in Shoumen. Organized by The Atlantic Club with the support of NATIP, the UK Embassy, the US Embassy and the Netherlands Embassy in Sofia. Opening of the photo exhibition NATO at 50. Free discussion on NATO’s New Mission and Security in South-Eastern Europe.
Press launch of This is Alaska, a book by Angel Kolev, a journalist of Bulgarska Armiya daily.
Prof. James Franklin Brown, former Deputy Director of Radio Free Europe in Munich, delivers a lecture before The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.
The Atlantic Club Bourgas Chapter organizes a press conference on occasion of the opening of a photo exhibition dedicated to the Bulgarian Armed Forces.

July

The Atlantic Club’s Bourgas Chapter organizes a lecture on NATO, US and Kosovo by Prof. Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov, the Manfred Woerner Foundation President and The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria Vice President, in Bourgas.
Italy’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Alessandro Grafini visits the NATO Information Center in Bourgas.

August

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a concert of world famous jazz musician Milcho Leviev at the closing ceremony of the European Cultural Month – Plovdiv ’99.

September

Bulgarian Deputy Defence Minister Velizar Shalamanov delivers a lecture before The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.

October

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes the presentation of The Saved, a documentary by the noted Bulgarian TV journalist Milena Milotinova, telling about the rescue of Bulgarian Jews from the Holocaust.

November

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria is among the main co-hosts of a mass rally during the visit of US President Bill Clinton to Sofia.
France’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Dominique Chassard delivers a lecture before The Atlantic Club.
The Atlantic Club presents the documentary Utopia and the exhibition of Bulgarian photographer Zafer Galibov.
NATO Day in Vidin is organized by The Atlantic Club with the support of the UK Embassy in Sofia. Free discussion on Values of the Transatlantic Community and Security in South-Eastern Europe.
The Atlantic Club Bourgas Chapter delivers materials for NATO Information Centre in Sofia and NATO to Bourgas garrison divisions.

December

US Committee on NATO President Bruce P. Jackson delivers a lecture before The Atlantic Club.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria accomplishes the 1998 Manfred Woerner Institutional Fellowship offered by the NATO HQ.
NATO Day in Stara Zagora, organized by The Atlantic Club with the support of the US and British Embassies in Sofia. Question and answer session on the Values of the Transatlantic Community and Security in South-Eastern Europe.
The Atlantic Club presents Craving for New Things, a documentary by the Bulgarian director and producer Lyubomir Halachev.
The Atlantic Club General Assembly and Annual Christmas Reception.
The Atlantic Club’s Bourgas Chapter organizes a charity Christmas concert at Sts Cyril and Methodius Church in Bourgas. Funds are raised to be spent on the restoration of a Church.

1998

January

Joris Voorhoeve, Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, lectures at the Atlantic Club.
Meeting of the ATA Bureau in Brussels.
Conference on the Need for a National Doctrine of Observation and Aspects of Euro-Atlantic Integration, organized by the Euro-Atlantic Youth Club and the Youth Organization of the V
American Center in Sofia. Premiere of Prof. Mincho Draganov’s book “The North Atlantic Express. American industry. “
Solomon Passy and Maxim Minchev visit the Second Army Corps. Meeting with Major General Stefan Nikolov and the officers from the headquarters. Discussion on Bulgaria’s integration into NATO.

February

The Atlantic Club organizes the Second Annual Atlantic Luncheon in the presence of the Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria Todor Kavaldzhiev, the Mayor of the capital Stefan Sofianski and the Ambassadors of NATO member states.
Solomon Passy’s participation in an international meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Jewish Committee.
The Atlantic Club welcomes a delegation from the American Jewish Committee led by the organization’s Executive Director David Harris. The delegation is received by President Petar Stoyanov, Prime Minister Ivan Kostov, Parliament Speaker Yordan Sokolov and Foreign Minister Nadezhda Mihaylova.
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi delivers a lecture to the Atlantic Club.

March

Admiral T. Joseph Lopez, Commander-in-Chief of the US Navy in Europe and Commander of the NATO Joint Force for Southeastern Europe, lectures at the Club.
Meeting of the Club management with Luis Maria de Puig of the Western European Union.
The Atlantic Club organizes the opening of an art exhibition by the artist Kiril Bozhkilov from Sandanski.
Strobe Talbot, US Deputy Secretary of State, meets with the Board of Directors of The Atlantic Club.
Lecture by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Bozhkov in front of the Club.
Meeting with Bulgarian and Romanian scholars of the German Marshall Fund.

April

Opening of the NATO Information Center in Sofia. Foreign Minister Nadezhda Mihaylova, Minister of Defense Georgi Ananev, Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofianski and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Integration Policy Assen Agov are in attendance.
NATO Secretary General Dr. Javier Solana meets with the Club’s leadership at the NATO Information Center.
Reception on the occasion of the 7th anniversary of The Atlantic Club with the presence of President Petar Stoyanov.
Conference on NATO Problems in the Eve of the New Century, organized by the Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Youth Club and the UDF Youth Clubs.
Paskal Milo, Albania’s foreign minister, lectures at The Atlantic Club.
Opening of The Atlantic Club NATO Information Center.
Ronald Linden, Director of the Center for Russian and Eastern European Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, lectures at the NATO Information Center.
General George Joulwan, former Commander of the NATO Air Force in Europe, gives a lecture at the NATO Information Center in Sofia.
Conference on European Security and NATO Enlargement, organized by the American Center, the Center for Liberal Strategies and The Atlantic Club, with the participation of General Joulw
A military delegation from the Kingdom of the Netherlands visits the NATO Information Center.
General George Jumper, Commander of the United States Air Force in Europe, visits the NATO Information Center.
Östen Sjöstrand, Chairman of the Nobel Committee of the Swedish Academy of Sciences, gives a lecture to members and guests of the Club.
A group of Portuguese journalist visits the NATO Information Center in Sofia.

May

General Klaus Naumann, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, lectures at The Atlantic Club.
Solomon Passy’s participation in the 92nd annual meeting of the American Jewish Committee.
A delegation of The Atlantic Club (Solomon Passy, Lubomir Ivanov, Binka Peeva, Augustina Tsvetkova, Ivanka Petkova, Ivan Sotirov, Maya Kostova, Iliya Plachkov and Maxim Minchev) participate in the Congress of the New Atlantic Initiative.
A delegation of The Atlantic Club (Solomon Passy, Binka Peeva and Maxim Minchev) pay a visit to the public of the town of Peshtera on the occasion of the city holiday and the Day of the Bulgarian Army.
Colonel Ivan Sotirov, Director of the NATO Information Center, works at the ATA Spring Seminar, verified in the UK.
AAMPL Vice President Augustine Tsvetkova takes part in a conference on Competition in the Sphere of High Technologies Between Europe, the USA and Germany as a Link Between New and Old Members of NATO.

June

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria is honored with the most authoritative unique scholarship in the name of Manfred Woerner. The scholarship is won by a project titled The NATO Expansion Mission and the First Decades of the 21st Century and is a recognition of The Atlantic Club’s overall work. The scholarship is awarded only once a year to a person or institution with particular merit to the Atlantic idea. Since the scholarship’s founding in 1995, The Atlantic Club is its third laureate.
The President of the Club attends the annual meeting of the ATA Bureau.
Ambassador Ralph Earle II, Deputy Director of the US Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, lectures at The Atlantic Club.
Charles Meyer, senior adviser on President Clinton’s military affairs, visits the NATO Information Center.
AAMPL Vice President Augustine Tsvetkova participates in the AAMPL Annual Meeting and the conference on Regional Cooperation and Security and Strategic Energy Applications. Sofia receives the host of the anniversary meeting of AAMPL.
The Atlantic Club sponsors a regional public forum “The Future of Nature Depends on Your Decisions,” organized by the Bulgarian Bird Protection Association.
Agreement between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense and The Atlantic Club for information cooperation.

July

José María Asnar, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Spain, lectures at The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.
Shula Bahat, Executive Director of the American Jewish Committee, visits Bulgaria as a guest speaker at the Club and the WFD.
The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Jonkeer Theo Six, visits the NATO Information Center and donates videos, books and magazines to the Dutch Army.
Professor Charles Kupchan of Georgetown University in the US and former Bill Clinton advisor on European Affairs visits The Atlantic Club.

August

Vice Admiral Daniel Murphy Jr., Commander of the 6th US Navy, lectures at The Atlantic Club.

September

Julie Findy, founder and board member of the American Committee on NATO Enlargement, visits the NATO Information Center.
Professor F. Goyembski of the University of Warsaw and Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland visits the NATO Information Center.
A Dutch delegation headed by Chris Sanders, Head of the Defense Policy Department at the Hague Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visits the NATO Information Center.
A group of leading media journalists in Germany visits the NATO Information Center.
Stage 5 of Vladimir Sorokin’s Bicycle Tours – Borders of Bulgaria (Sofia – Vidin – Sililstra – Malko Turnovo – Petrich – Sofia) under the auspices of The Atlantic Club, BRC and the Ministry of the Environment, dedicated to the 50th anniversary of NATO.
Opening of a photo exhibition “Captivating Thailand” by Atlantic Club President Maxim Minchev and journalist from Radio Free Europe, together with the premiere of his poetry book by his radio colleague Emilia Antova, “Drunken Thoughts of a Princess”.

October

Daniel George, Director of the Division for Economic and Political Affairs at NATO Headquarters, visits the NATO Information Center.
Participation of а Club delegation in the International Conference on Security and Cooperation, organized by the Turkish Atlantic Association.
Major General Orhan Yunay of the Turkish National Security College speaks at the NATO Information Center in Sofia.
Aviation Vice-Admiral Keith Philby of the Royal College of Defense (UK) visits the NATO Information Center, along with officers and college members from the US, UK, Australia, Bruneh, Oman and Indonesia.
Dr. Tamas Tikk, Ambassador of Hungary to Bulgaria, visits the NATO Information Center.
Premiere of the movie Black Sea (directed by Lyubomir Halachev), organized by The Atlantic Club.
Tsalapitsa village, Plovdiv. Dutch Ambassador Jonkheer Theo Six and the President of the Club participate in a national bird protection campaign organized by the Dutch company Milleukontakt OOST-Europa, the Club, the Municipality of Rhodope and the Society for the Protection of Birds.
Conference “IMRO and the Contemporary Aspects of the Bulgarian National Idea”, organized by The Atlantic Club and IMRO.
The Atlantic Club sponsors the Mountain Travel Film Festival.

November

An Atlantic Club Delegation participates in the 44th General Assembly of the Atlantic Treaty Association.
Atlantic Club Delegation’s Official Dinner with H. E. Simeon II.
Christopher Donnelly, Special Advisor to the Secretary General of NATO for Central and Eastern Europe, lectures at The Atlantic Club.
Ribaritsa village, Loveshko. Workshop on Democratic Control of the Armed Forces, organized by The Atlantic Club and facilitated by the PHARE Program.
A delegation of the Security Committee to the House of Representatives of the British Parliament visits the NATO Information Center.
Bulgarian participation in an international delegation of ATA (Prof. Lubomir Ivanov, Vice-President of the Club), who visits Bosnia and Herzegovina. The delegation, headed by Theodosius Georgiou, meets with Bosnian Heads of State, the United Nations Office and SFOR.
Conference “The European Dimensions of the Global Financial Crisis and its Impact on Bulgaria’s EU Integration Program”, organized by the Foundation “St. St. Cyril and Methodius“, Ilko Eskenazi Foundation and The Atlantic Club.

December

Professor Francesco Palmieri, Director of Civilian Disaster Planning at NATO Headquarters, spoke before the Club.
Bob Clough, Microsoft Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe, gives a lecture at the Club on the topic of Bulgaria on the Road to the Digital Age.
The NATO Information Center publishes its first NATO Enlargement newsletter dedicated to Hungary.
Visit of a group of Bulgarian journalists, organized by the Club, in Brussels, Mons and The Hague. Radinella Buserska, Sevda Shishmanova and Vladislav Prelezov (BNT), Evelina Andreeva (BTA), Tanya Velichkova (BNR), Victoria Behar (Nova TV), Svetoslav Petrov (Radio “Free Europe”), Ivan Sotirov and Maxim Minchev visit NATO HQ in Brussels, SACEUR in Mons and the Netherlands with the assistance of the Bulgarian Ambassador to The Hague, Kamen Velichkov. In the Netherlands, they are guests of the Dutch Atlantic Committee and have meetings in the Parliament, the War Department and the International Court of Justice.
Danny Davis, a member of the US Congress (from the Democratic Party), visits The Atlantic Club. Meetings with President Stoyanov and the Speaker of the National Assembly Mr Dr. Davis speaks in front of the Club.
Bruce Jackson, president of the American Committee on NATO Enlargement, gives a lecture to the Club.
Participation in the International Conference on the Status and Perspectives of Stability in the Balkans, organized by the Albanian Atlantic Association.
Atlantic Club General Assembly and traditional Christmas Atlantic Reception.
Traditional New Year’s Eve Mass Celebration in the Mineral Baths Municipality (Haskovo County).

1997

January

The Netherlands’ Defence Minister Joris J.C. Voorhoeve addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
An ATA Bureau Meeting is held in Brussels.
A Conference on The Need for a National Security Doctrine. Aspects of Euro-Atlantic Integration is organized by the Euro-Atlantic Youth Club.
The Club participates in the Annual Conference of the Atlantic Council of the United Kingdom, in England.
The Atlantic Club press-launches The North Atlantic Exclusiveness – a book by Prof. Mincho Draganov.

February

The Atlantic Club hosts an Annual Atlantic Lunch for Bulgaria’s Vice President, Todor Kavaldjiev, Sofia Mayor, Stefan Sofiyanski, and the Ambassadors of NATO Member States.
The Club participates in the Board of Governors Institute of American Jewish Committee in Berlin.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria hosts an American Jewish Committee delegation, led by AJC Executive Director David A. Harris. The Delegation meets Bulgaria’s President Peter Stoyanov, Prime Minister Ivan Kostov, National Assembly Chairman Yordan Sokolov and Foreign Minister Nadezhda Mihaylova.
Italy’s Prime Minister Romano Prodi addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.

March

Admiral T. Joseph Lopez, Supreme Commander, US Naval Forces in Europe, and Commander-in-Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe, addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
Meeting with WEU Assembly President Luis Maria de Puige.
US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott meets The Atlantic Club Board.
Bulgaria’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Bozhkov addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
Bulgarian and Romanian Fellows of the 98′ GMF Fellowship Program (May 2 – June 30, 1998, USA) meet in Sofia.

April

Formal Inauguration of the NATO Information Centre in Sofia, attended by Foreign Minister Nadezhda Mihaylova, Parliamentary Foreign and Integration Policy Committee Chairman Asen Agov, Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofiyanski and Ambassadors of NATO Member States.
NATO Secretary General Javier Solana meets The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria Board of Directors at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
A reception is hosted by The Atlantic Club President Dr. Solomon Passy, on occasion of the 7th birthday of the Club, attended by Bulgaria’s President Peter Stoyanov.
A Youth Conference on NATO on the Brink of the New Millennium. New Mission, New Strategy was co-organized by the Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Youth Club and the UDF Youth Clubs.
Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal Milo addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
An inauguration of The Atlantic Club NATO Information Centre is held in Varna.
Ronald H. Linden, Director of the Center for Russian and East European Studies, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, delivers a lecture at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
A conference is organized by the Centre for Liberal Strategies, with the support of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, and is attended by General George A. Joulwan, former SACEUR, in Sofia.
General Joulwan addresses The Atlantic Club at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
A military delegation from the Institute of Leadership, Media and Training, Royal Netherlands Army, visits the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
A group of Portuguese journalists visits the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
General John Jumper, USAF, Commander USAFE and Commander AIRCENT, addresses the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
The Swedish Academy Nobel Committee Chairman Osten Sjostrand addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.

May

NATO Military Committee Chairman General Klaus Naumann addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
The Club’s delegation takes part in a Conference of New Atlantic Initiative in Istanbul.
Participation in the 92nd Annual Meeting of American Jewish Committee in Washington, D.C.
The Atlantic Club President Dr. Solomon Passy is an official guest in Peshtera on occasion of the Bulgarian Armed Forces Day.
Sofia’s NATO Information Centre Director, Colonel Ivan Sotirov, participates in the UK Spring Seminar of ATA Atlantic Education Committee.
AAYPL Vice President and Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Youth Club Secretary General, Avgustina Tzvetkova, visits Bonn to participate in the AAYPL German Conference on Competition and Cooperation in the Field of High Technologies between Europe and USA and Germany as a Link between Old and New NATO Members.
George C. Marshall, European Center for Security Studies Deputy Director, John P. Otjen, visits the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
The 1998 Manfred Woerner Institutional Fellowship is offered by the NATO HQ to The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.

June

The Atlantic Club President Dr. Solomon Passy participates in the Annual ATA Bureau Meeting in Brussels.
US Arms Control and Disarmament Agency Deputy Director Ambassador Ralph Earl II delivers a lecture before The Atlantic Club.
A delegation of the US Joint Contact Team in Sofia, headed by US Chief of Team Colonel Joseph B. Corcoran Jr., USAF, visits the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
Lieutenant General Charles R. Mayer (Ret.), US Signal Corps, Senior Military Advisor to President, Federal Systems Division, delivers a lecture before the NATO Information Centre in Sofia. The event launches a cycle of lectures dedicated to NATO Enlargement and New Advanced Technologies.
An agreement is signed between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence and The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria. The agreement concers cooperation in the sphere of information and the operation of the NATO Information Centre.
AAYPL Vice President and Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Youth Club Secretary General, Avgustina Tzvetkova, attends an AAYPL Bureau Meeting in Oslo and participates in the AAYPL Annual Conference in Oslo on Regional Cooperation and Security and Strategic Implications of Energy.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria co-sponsors a Regional Public Forum dubbed as the Future of Nature Depends on Your Decisions, organized by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds, a partner of BirdLife International.
Dr. Charles Kupchan, Professor of International Relations at Georgetown University, delivers a lecture at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.

July

Spain’s Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
American Jewish Committee’s Associate Executive Director Shula Bahat visits Bulgaria as a guest speaker of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and of the Civil Society Development Foundation.
Netherlands Ambassador to Bulgaria Jonkheer W. Theo Six donates video materials, magazines and brochures on the Royal Netherlands Army and NATO to the library of the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
LaserCard Systems Corporation’s Director for European Operations Dr. Max Bodmer addresses the NATO Information Centre in Sofia. His visit is part of a cycle of lectures on NATO Enlargement and New Advanced Technologies.

August

Vice Admiral Daniel J. Murphy, Jr., Commander of the US Sixth Fleet and Commander of the Naval Striking and Support Forces Southern Europe, delivers a lecture before The Atlantic Club.

September

The US Committee on NATO’s Founder and Board Member Julie Finley addresses the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
Prof. F. Goiembski, Professor in Political Studies at Warsaw University and Adviser to the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, delivers a lecture at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
The Netherlands Embassy in Sofia assumes responsibilities of a NATO Contact Point Embassy.
The Netherlands government delegation, led by the Foreign Ministry Security Policy Department Head Chris Sanders visits the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
German journalists meet The Atlantic Club’s leadership. The Group consists of: Michael Anthony of Die Welt, Berlin; Wolfgang Collatz of ARD – aktuell, Hamburg; Veronika Hackenbroch of Henri-Nannen Jurnalistenschule, z. Zt. Der Spiegel, Hamburg; Verena Hauf of FAZ-Sontagszeitung, Frankfurt; Nina Werkhauser of Deutsche Welle, Cologne; Oda Lambrecht of Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Hamburg; and Guido Hartmann of Deutsche Welle TV.

October

The NATO HQ Political Affairs Division Director of Economics Daniel George visits the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club takes part in the Ninth International Antalya Conference on Security and Cooperation.
Major General Orhan Yuney, Commandant, Turkish National Security College, addresses the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
Air Vice-Marshal Keith D. Filbey, Royal College of Defence Studies, visits the NATO Information Centre in Sofia. College graduates from UK, US, Australia, Brunei, Oman and Indonesia meet with The Atlantic Club members and journalists.
Hungary’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Dr. Tamas Tick pays an official visit to the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club in Bulgaria co-sponsors an ecological documentary about the Black Sea.
The Atlantic Club President Dr. Solomon Passy and the Netherlands Ambassador to Bulgaria Jonkheer W. Theo Six attend the launch of a National Campaign for Protection of White Storks in Bulgaria, organized by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds, partner of BirdLife International.
The Atlantic Club co-sponsors the Mountain Film Festival in Troyan.

November

A 100-plus-strong Bulgarian delegation participates in the 44th ATA General Assembly in Lisbon. The Bulgarian delegation hosts a formal dinner in honour of H.M. Simeon II.
Christopher Donnelly, Special Adviser to NATO Secretary General for Central and Eastern European Affairs, delivers a lecture before The Atlantic Club.
A seminar on Democratic Control of the Armed Forces, organized by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and co-sponsored by the Phare Democracy Programme and British partners takes place in Ribaritsa Village.
A Delegation from the UK Parliament House of Commons Defence Committee meets The Atlantic Club’s President Dr. Solomon Passy at the NATO Information Centre in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club in Bulgaria participates in a mission to Sarajevo, headed by ATA Chairman Theodossis Georgiou. The ATA delegation meets with Bosnia-Herzegovina’s President, Foreign Minister and Deputy Foreign Minister, Prime Minister, First Deputy Supreme International Representative of US to Bosnia and his Adviser, SFOR Commander and three Deputy Commanders, and Commanders of Italian brigade, British division and Greek battalion.

December

Prof. Francesco Palmeri, Director for Civil Emergency Planning, NATO HQ, addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
Microsoft Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe Bob Clough delivers a lecture before The Atlantic Club on Bulgaria on the Way Towards the Digital Era. Integration into the Euro-Atlantic Structures.
The NATO Information Centre in Sofia releases its first newsletter on NATO Enlargement, dedicated to the Republic of Hungary.
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria hosts US Congressman Danny Davis. During his official visit to Bulgaria Dr. Davis has meetings with Bulgaria’s President Peter Stoyanov, National Assembly Chairman Yordan Sokolov and Deputy Foreign Minister Konstantin Dimitrov. Dr. Davis addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
US Committee on NATO President Bruce P. Jackson delivers a lecture before The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club participates in a Conference on Regional Dialogue between Different Generations, organized by the Centre for Development of NGOs, Bourgas.
The Club participates in the South Eastern International Model of the United Nations (SEIMUN), organized by the European Youth Movement — Bulgaria and National Association of United Nations Youth Clubs.
The Club participates in the Car of the Year National Show.
The Club participates in the Conference on the Status and Perspectives of Stability in the Balkans, in Tirana.
The Atlantic Club General Assembly and annual Christmas Reception are held.

1996

January – February

Dr. Passy visits the Bulgarian Base on Livingstone Island, Antarctica, within the framework of the Fourth National Antarctic Expedition, organized by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.

March

Sofia Municipal Council, acting on proposal by The Atlantic Club, approves a plan to set up monument of late NATO Secretary General Manfred Woerner in Sofia.

April

A study tour of NATO HQ and SHAPE is organized by the Club for leading Bulgarian journalists. The tour is sponsored by NATIP.
The Club co-sponsors the lecture of Prof. Balsa Spadier, Chairman of Serbia’s Constitutional Court and a participant in the Dayton negotiations.
The Atlantic Club gives a farewell reception in honour of Apostolic Nuncio Mario Rizzi.
Bosnian Peace Implementation Coordinator Ambassador William D. Montgomery, Club’s Honorary Director, addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club publishes the Bulgarian version of the NATO Handbook, co-sponsored by NATIP.

May

NATO Secretary General Javier Solana unveils the Dr. Manfred Woerner Monument erected by The Atlantic Club in Sofia. Dr. Solana delivers a speech at The Atlantic Club.
The Third annual Partnership for Peace Film Festival, co-sponsored by AAVC and The Atlantic Club, is held.
Dr. Passy participates in the 90th Annual Meeting of the American Jewish Committee in Washington, D.C.
His Majesty Simeon II, King of Bulgaria (1943-1946) and the Club’s Honorary Director, visits Bulgaria after 50 years in exile and addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.

June

The Club organizes a presentation of world famous Bulgarian-born jazz piano player Milcho Leviev, attended by H.M. King Simeon II and H.M. Queen Margarita.
The Club participates in an ATA Council meeting in Brussels.

July

Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev and former German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietriech Genscher are key-note speakers at an international seminar organized by The Atlantic Club and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.
General Sir Jeremy Mackenzie, SACEUR, delivers a speech at The Atlantic Club.
Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev delivers his annual foreign policy speech at The Atlantic Club.
UK Defence Secretary Michael Portillo delivers a speech at The Atlantic Club.

August

Vladimir Sorokin starts a round-the-world bicycle trip sponsored by the Club.

September

The Atlantic Club leadership has a lunch meeting with the newly appointed US Ambassador to Bulgaria Avis T. Bohlen.

October

United Opposition presidential nominee MP Peter Stoyanov presents his foreign policy platform in a speech delivered at The Atlantic Club.
Bulgarian Socialist Party presidential nominee Prof. Ivan Marazov and running mate Irina Bokova present their foreign policy platform in a speech delivered at The Atlantic Club.
The Atlantic Club President Dr. Solomon Passy meets independent presidential nominee Christo Boychev and running mate Ivan Koulekov.

November

The 42nd ATA General Assembly is held in Rome. ATA approves a new Statute and elects The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria founding President, Dr Solomon Passy, as Vice-Chairman of ATA. Dr. Passy becomes the first representative from Central and Eastern Europe to be elected to such a position by ATA. The ATA Bureau unanimously proposes that ATA hold the 1997 General Assembly in Sofia, acting on invitation extended by The Atlantic Club and Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofiyanski. Bulgaria’s President-elect Peter Stoyanov sends an address to the ATA General Assembly, which congratulates Stoyanov on his election.

December

A Club delegation participates in the Sixth International Symposium in Greece, Athens, organized by GAAEC.
A Club delegation participates in the International Conference The Balkans after the Dayton Accords, organized in Tirana by the Albanian Atlantic Association.
A meeting of The Atlantic Club’s General Assembly and the Christmas Reception of The Club are held. The events are attended by outgoing President Zhelev and President-elect Peter Stoyanov.

1995

January

Club Delegation led by The Atlantic Club President Dr. Solomon Passy visits the Bulgarian Antarctic Base on Livingstone Island, accompanied by Bulgaria’s Ambassador to Brazil and a TV crew. A Bulgarian post office formally opens on Livingstone Island.

February

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria organizes a press-launch of Europe, Europe – a book by Spain’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Jorge Fuentes. The book is presented by Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski and former Bulgarian National Assembly Chairman Alexander Yordanov.

March

Former NATO Secretary General Lord Carrington delivers a speech at The Atlantic Club. The Club gives a reception in his honour.
A group of Bulgarian businessmen, organized by The Atlantic Club, visits the NATO HQ in Brussels.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Nikolay N. Afanasievsky delivers a speech at the Club. The Club gives a reception in his honour.
General George A. Joulwan, SACEUR, delivers a speech at The Atlantic Club. The Club gives a reception in his honour.

April

The Atlantic Club, in cooperation with the Centre for Liberal Strategies and the Euro-Atlantic Foundation, organizes a national debate on Bulgarian Consensus on Bulgaria’s Membership of NATO.
On occasion of the 4th birthday of the Club and the 46th anniversary of NATO, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Zhan Videnov delivers a lecture at The Atlantic Club (attendance: 1,500).
The National Conference The Atlantic Values and NATO: Bulgarian Consensus is held at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture. Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev delivers an opening address. Opposition leader Ivan Kostov and a majority of MPs give speeches.
Bulgaria and the Euro-Atlantic Security Structures Conference is organized in cooperation with the National Association for International Relations (NAMO) at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture. Bulgaria’s President, Zhelyu Zhelev, holds a working meeting with the leadership of the Euro-Atlantic associations.
Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev gives his annual foreign policy speech at the Club (attendance: 1,500).
Club members visit the Assarel-Medet ore dressing works to present films about the Third National Antarctic Expedition.
The 50 years since World War II Round-Table Discussion, co-sponsored by the Club, is held.
The Second International Conference, Black Sea: Naval View, organized by the Bulgarian Navy and The Atlantic Club, is held in Varna.

May

The Atlantic Club President Dr. Solomon Passy attends the 89th Annual Meeting of the American Jewish Committee in Washington, D.C.
The Second Partnership for Peace International Film Festival, organized by AAVC and The Atlantic Club, is held.
An ACYPL delegation visits Sofia and is hosted by the Club. The delegation is received by Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Zhan Videnov, the Bulgarian National Bank Governor Todor Vulchev, Cabinet Ministers and opposition leaders.
Dr. Passy takes part in an ATA Council meeting in Brussels.
A delegation of The Atlantic Club and of the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute, under a Foreign Ministry mandate, participate in the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Seoul, South Korea.
A Club delegation visits Moldova at the invitation of President Mircea Snegur, to share experience with Moldovan colleagues on the foundation and management of an Atlantic association. The Delegation has meetings with President Snegur, the Government, the Parliament, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence and members of the Bulgarian minority in Moldova.

June

Marshal Viktor Kulikov, Commander-in-Chief of the Warsaw Pact Organization (1977 – 1990), delivers a speech at The Atlantic Club. Marshal Kulikov’s appearance at The Atlantic Club throws bridge to the small minority of opponents to NATO membership. The visit is sponsored by the United Bulgarian Bank, St. Nicholas International Orthodox Bank and Chapp Holding.
The Atlantic Club hosts a lunch in honour of commanders participating in the Partnership for Peace’s “Cooperative Rescue” International Exercise in Black Sea off Varna.
A Third International Conference on Sustainable Development is held under the Club’s auspices and co-sponsored by BASA, the Ministry of Science, Education and Technologies, Union Atlantic Ltd. and United Bulgarian Bank.

July

The Atlantic Club President, Dr. Solomon Passy, hosts lunches with newly elected Director-Generals of the Bulgarian National Television, the Bulgarian National Radio, the Bulgarian News Agency, the Bulgarian National Bank Governor, and the Ambassadors of the US, UK, Sweden, Czech Republic, Spain and Italy.

August

The Atlantic Club organizes a publicity and PR for Partnership for Peace “Breeze ’95” Exercise, on the Black Sea off Varna.

October

The Sofia Municipal Council, acting on a proposal by The Atlantic Club, resolves to name a street in Sofia after late NATO Secretary General Manfred Woerner. Sofia becomes the world’s first city to pay such tribute to the North Atlantic Alliance.
A Club delegation participates in the 41st ATA General Assembly in Toronto.

November

A Club delegation participates in the 6th Antalya Conference on Security and Cooperation.
The Atlantic Club President Dr. Solomon Passy participates in a Conference on Promoting Tolerance in Europe, organized by the American Jewish Committee and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, in the US.
Prof. Dan Nelson from the Old Dominion University, delivers a speech at The Atlantic Club.
The Fourth Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition organized by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute leaves for the Bulgarian Antarctic Base on Livingstone Island.

December

The Atlantic Club hosts a visit by an American Jewish Committee delegation led by AJC Executive Director David A. Harris. The delegation meets Bulgaria’s President, Zhelyu Zhelev, Prime Minister Zhan Videnov and National Assembly Chairman Blagovest Sendov.
The US Ambassador to the EU, Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat, delivers a speech at the Club, introduced by the US Ambassador to Bulgaria William D. Montgomery.
Former WEU Secretary General Willem van Eekelen gives a speech at the Club, introduced by the Netherlands Ambassador to Bulgaria Frans Brouwers.
Slovak State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Josef Sestak addresses The Atlantic Club in Sofia.
Prof. Willie Breytenbach and Dr. Patrick Ncube from the Republic of South Africa deliver a lecture at the Club, with the co-sponsorship of the South African Embassy in Sofia.
Dr. Passy delivers a speech to a NATO Defence College delegation visiting Sofia.
The Atlantic Club General Assembly and the annual Christmas Reception of the Club are held.

1994

January

Dr. Passy visits the 9th Tank Brigade and delivers a speech on Atlantic values.
The Third Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition, organized by The Atlantic Club and including The Atlantic Club’s President Dr. Solomon Passy goes to King George Island, Antarctica.
Dr. Passy takes part in a World Net live TV interactive debate with the US Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Madeleine Albright.
NATO Summit in Brussels approves the Partnership for Peace. The Atlantic Club Coordinator, Mae Johnson, attends the NATO Summit and briefs Club Council.
The Bulgarian Government decides to join the Partnership for Peace.
The Club gives a farewell reception in honour of Denmark’s Ambassador to Bulgaria, Klaus Otto Kappel, the Club’s Honorary Director.

February

Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev signs the Partnership for Peace.
The Club leadership visits Silistra at the invitation of its Mayor and lectures on Atlantic values and Partnership for Peace prospects.

March

The Bulgarian National Assembly Chairman Alexander Yordanov delivers a public speech on foreign policy sponsored by The Atlantic Club (attendance: 1,000).
The In or at War — It’s Never a Bore TV film about the Belgian Armed Forces, the first in “I WAS A SOLDIER IN A …. NATO ARMED FORCES” series, produced by AAVC and co-sponsored by The Atlantic Club, is premiered at a presentation including a lecture on the Belgian Armed Forces reforms, by Belgium’s Ambassador to Bulgaria, Koenraad Rouvroy.
The premiere of A Touch of Antarctica TV film, produced by the Bulgarian National Television Atlas Programme and co-sponsored by The Atlantic Club, is broadcasted. The film tells about the Third Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition, organized by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.
Technology of Power, a book by A. Avtorhanov, co-sponsored by the Club, has a press launch.

April

A reception marking the 3rd birthday of The Atlantic Club and the 45th anniversary of NATO is attended by 1,500 people, including WEU Secretary General Dr. Willem van Eekelen. Dr. van Eekelen delivers in Sofia a speech sponsored by The Atlantic Club.
Dr. Passy suggests on National Television that the Government of Bulgaria initiate the creation of a joint Bulgarian-Greek and Bulgarian-Turkish military corps.
The premiere of Bulgarians at the End of the World TV film, produced by the Bulgarian National Television Atlas Programme and co-sponsored by The Atlantic Club, is broadcasted. The film tells about the Second Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition, organized by The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.
Spain’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Jorge Fuentes is a Special Speaker at the National Insecurity National Conference co-sponsored by The Atlantic Club.
The Euro-Atlantic Youth Committee co-sponsored by The Atlantic Club is founded.

May

Former French Prime Minister Pierre Pflimlin delivers a speech on occasion of Europe Day, co-sponsored by Sofia University, the Euro-Atlantic Youth Committee and the Club.
The Partnership for Peace International Film Festival is organized with the co-sponsorship of the AAVC and the Club.
At a meeting in Brussels the ATA Council decides to offer The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria a new, enhanced “associate membership” status.
The Atlantic Club’s Aero-Space Programme sponsors a Bulgarian project launching an antenna for joint US-Russian space mission in 1995.
On behalf of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, Chairman of Department for External Church Affairs of Moscow Patriarchate, delivers a speech sponsored by the Club.

June

A Charity Exhibition of Ada Mitrani is held on occasion of International Children’s Day. The Exhibition is co-sponsored by the American Center in Sofia, the International Women’s Club and The Atlantic Club.
The 50 Years since D-Day Round-table Discussion is held with the co-sponsorship of the Ministry of Defence, The Atlantic Club, Khan Kroum Foundation, the Institute for Social and Political Studies, G.S. Rakovski Military Academy, the Americanists Association, and the Euro-Atlantic Youth Committee.
CIA Former Deputy Director for Operations Richard Stolz visits Bulgaria as guest of The Atlantic Club and of the Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Intelligence Forum and delivers in Sofia, Turnovo and Bourgas public speeches sponsored by the Club.
The Second International Conference on Sustainable Development, Energy Efficiency and High Technologies is organized. The Conference is sponsored by The Atlantic Club and co-sponsored by BASA. The opening speech is delivered by Education Minister Marko Todorov, founding member of The Atlantic Club. Sir Alan Walters, Vice Chairman of American International Group Inc. (AIG) and former economic adviser to Margaret Thatcher, delivers a public speech co-sponsored by The Atlantic Club and the Institute for Market Economics. Sir Alan is introduced by UK Ambassador to Bulgaria Richard Thomas.
The Young Political Leaders Conference Building Links for a New Generation in Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic, is organized by the Future of Europe Trust (FET) – the Czech counterpart of The Atlantic Club.
Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman, Admiral William A. Owens, delivers a speech sponsored by The Atlantic Club.
Annual foreign policy speech of Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev is delivered before The Atlantic Club. The topic is Bulgaria in Partnership for Peace (attendance: 1,200).

July

St. Petersburg’s Mayor and ex-USSR MP, Anatoly Sobchak, delivers a speech sponsored by The Atlantic Club.
Joint Bulgarian-Austrian business seminar on privatization, banking and investment, co-sponsored by the Bourgas Regional Governor and The Atlantic Club, is held.
The Club gives a farewell reception in honour of John Kunstadter, a Member of the Club from the US Embassy in Sofia. The reception is attended by Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Lyuben Berov.
Club leaders visit Silistra at the invitation of the Mayor to promote activities in Sustainable Development Programmes in the region.
US Defence Secretary William J. Perry delivers a speech at The Atlantic Club during a trip to Sofia as first US Secretary of Defence ever to visit Bulgaria.
A General Assembly of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria is held. Special greetings are sent by Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev.

August

NATO Secretary General Manfred Woerner passes away. The Atlantic Club organizes a memorial service at St. Nedelya’s Cathedral in Sofia. Sermons are given by Rev. Antonii and by the Apostolic Nuncio in Sofia Mario Rizzi. The Atlantic Club’s President Dr. Solomon Passy attends the funeral service in Brussels. The Atlantic Club decides to establish the Manfred Woerner International Foundation as tribute to the late Secretary General’s outstanding contribution to the advancement of Atlantic values.
Vladimir Sorokin starts a round-the-world bicycle trip sponsored by the Club.
The Atlantic Club sponsors the Third International Orienteering Tournament.

September

Portugal’s President Mario Soares delivers a speech at The Atlantic Club. The Club gives a reception in his honour.
The International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Hans Blix delivers a speech at The Atlantic Club. The Club gives a reception in his honour.
The Club, in cooperation with the Bulgarian Olympic Committee, sponsors an centennial jubilee celebration of Bulgarian gymnastics.
A Club delegation takes part in a security seminar organized by the French Association for the Atlantic Community in Paris.
A group of Bulgarian journalists sponsored by The Atlantic Club makes a study tour in NATO HQ and SHAPE.

October

The Manfred Worner Memorial Conference on Partnership for Peace and NATO in the Balkans is organized by The Atlantic Club at Boyana Residence. The Conference is co-sponsored by the Bulgarian National Assembly, NATIP, NAA, the Western European Union and the Centre for European Security Studies. Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev makes the opening address. Key-note speakers are Moldova’s President Mircea Snegur and Albanian Parliament Speaker Peter Arbnori.
A Club delegation participates in an Elections Study Tour in Germany organized by the German Atlantic Society.
A Club delegation takes part in the Fifth International Antalya Conference organized by the Turkish Atlantic Council.
A Club delegation participates in the 40th ATA General Assembly in The Hague. The General Assembly decides to offer an associate membership status, already given to The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, to the Atlantic Councils of Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia and Slovenia.

November

His Holiness Pope John Paul II grants audience to The Atlantic Club. The Forty-member delegation includes leading Bulgarian intellectuals and statesmen.
A Club delegation takes part in an Elections Study Tour in the US, organized by ACYPL.
The Third Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition organized by The Club leaves for the Bulgarian base on Livingstone Island, Antarctica.

December

The Club organizes a Charity Christmas Exhibition of handicapped painters.
The Club hosts a Charity Lunch for orphans.
The Club’s Christmas Reception is attended by 1,300 people.

1993

January

Club Council visits Skopje at the invitation of local activists to share Bulgaria’s experience in the founding of an Atlantic Club. The Council meets with the Macedonian Defence Minister Vlado Popovski, opposition members and the Metropolitan of Skopje.
The Club leadership meets EUROMIL President Jens C. Rotboell, who joins the Club’s Board of Honorary Directors.
The Club co-sponsors a charity exhibition organized by BUDNO Charity Foundation, intended to support the creation of orphans’ villages in Bulgaria.
The Made in Bulgaria business magazine sponsored by the Club publishes a pilot issue.

February

Prof. Husseyin Bagci from the Middle East Technical University, Ankara, visits Sofia and delivers a public lecture under the Club’s auspices, at G.S. Rakovski Military Academy in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club becomes a founding member of the Euro-Atlantic Foundation for International & Security Studies. The Foundation’s first Chairman Zdravko Popov is The Atlantic Club Board member and former Foreign Policy Adviser to President Zhelev.
The first part of a TV series about the first Bulgarian contingent committed to UNTAC, sponsored by the Club and produced by Board member Yuliana Toncheva, goes on air.

March

A Club delegation visits Moscow to explore opportunities for the establishment of an Atlantic Club. The delegation is received by His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia. It visits Star City and meets with leading Russian cosmonauts.
Polish Deputy Defence Minister, Przemislaw Grudzinski, visits the Club and talks with the leadership.
The Club leaders meet Vice Admiral Peter Woodhead, Deputy SACLANT.
The Club co-sponsors Do You Know NATO? National Competition, together with Bulgarska Armiya daily.

April

UK Under-Secretary of Defence, Archie Hamilton, meets with the Club’s leadership.
Club Council meets Minister-Counselor Vernon D. Penner, Special Assistant to SACEUR, General John M. Shalikashvili.
The second National Sports Tournament for The Atlantic Club Cup is held.
Bulgarian Deputy Defence Minister and Club member Hristo Tomov addresses The Atlantic Club Council.

May

The Atlantic Club launches its Antarctic Programme and becomes a co-founder of the non-governmental Bulgarian Antarctic Institute.
Prof. Stephen Larrabee, RAND Corporation, visits Sofia and delivers a public lecture under the Club’s auspices at Sofia University.
The Atlantic Club co-sponsors the New Europe – New Management Style International Conference in Sofia, under the auspices of CECIOS and Open Market International Consortium.
The National Security Decision-Making Process Seminar, sponsored by The Atlantic Club, President Zhelev’s Office and The Atlantic Council of the United States, is organized in Sofia.
The Black Sea – Naval View ’93 International Symposium, organized by the Bulgarian Navy and co-sponsored by The Atlantic Club, is held in Varna.
A Delegation of the French Association for the Atlantic Community visits Bulgaria at invitation of The Atlantic Club.
The Competition for Democratic Institutions NATO Fellowship Program is over. Bulgarian citizens receive 13 scholarships out of the 64 offered to cooperation partners.
A Club representative participates in the 3rd International Symposium of Atlantic Education Committee, organized by GAAEC in Athens.
The second Annual Meeting of The Atlantic Club General Assembly is held. Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev and NATO Secretary General Manfred Woerner cable greetings to the Assembly.

June

Montevideo-based Institute of International Studies Director Prof. Alphonse E. Max delivers a public speech sponsored by the Club.
The Sustainable Urban Development – Gabrovo Demonstration Zone for Energy Efficiency International Symposium is organized in Gabrovo by the Club and Gabrovo Municipality.
ATA Vice-Chairman and GAAEC President Theodossis Georgiou visits Bulgaria as The Atlantic Club’s guest. Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev receives Georgiou and becomes the first head of state in Eastern and Central Europe to receive an ATA Bureau member.
Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev delivers his annual foreign policy speech before The Atlantic Club. The lecture is attended by the ATA Vice-Chairman and GAAEC President Georgiou.
The Club and Askeer Theatre Academy co-sponsor mid-summer-day happening in Sofia.
NATO Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Gebhardt von Moltke delivers a speech sponsored by the Club.
The Club organizes the presentation of a book on Spain’s transition to democracy by Prof. Dragomir Draganov, founding member and Club Council member. His study is sponsored by the 1990 – 91 NATO Democratic Institution Fellowship.
A Club delegation participates in the 1993 Biannual Assembly of AAYPL in Bonn.

July

The Science and National Security in the Changing World seminar, co-sponsored by The Club, is held.
US Congressman H. Martin Lancaster visits Bulgaria as The Atlantic Club’s guest, delivers speeches sponsored by the Club in Sofia and Varna, is received by Bulgaria’s President, Zhelyu Zhelev, Prime Minister Lyuben Berov and Defence Minister Valentin Alexandrov, and meets all parliamentary groups. Congressman Lancaster joins the Club’s Board of Honorary Directors.
The Club is co-founder of the Bulgarian Euro-Atlantic Intelligence Forum.

August

Dr. Passy delivers a speech on Atlantic values and foreign policy before the Rotary Club in Sofia.
The Club sponsors the only European participant in an American competition for Elvis impersonators, in Memphis, Tenn.
The Atlantic Club and the Bulgarian Government co-found BASA.

September

His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I visits Bulgaria and delivers a public speech sponsored by The Atlantic Club.
NAA President Loic Bouvard and NAA Secretary General Peter Corterier visit Sofia. Bouvard delivers a public speech sponsored by the Club.
The Developing Entrepreneurship in South-Eastern Europe Young Leaders’ Seminar is held in Blagoevgrad under the honorary patronage of Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev and co-organized by The Atlantic Club, The Atlantic Council of the United States and the American University in Bulgaria.
A 30-members Bulgarian delegation led by the Club’s President Dr. Solomon Passy participates in the 39th ATA General Assembly in Athens. Defence Minister Valentin Alexandrov addresses the ATA. ATA, inspired by the 3-year-old application of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria for full membership, decides to make modest changes in its Constitution and to offer associate status to the Atlantic associations of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Russia as well.
The AAYPL leadership and an ACYPL delegation visit Bulgaria, where they are hosted by The Atlantic Club.
The Third National Conference Physical Education & Sport in the Balkans during Renaissance, co-sponsored by the Club, is organized.
An exhibition of medals and plaquettes by Ivanka Mincheva and etchings by Russlan Kotev, co-sponsored by the Club, are organized at Mall Galleries, Trafalgar Square, London.

October

A Club delegation including The Atlantic Club President Dr. Solomon Passy, Deputy Foreign Minister Dimiter Ikonomov and National Security Committee Deputy Chairman Dimiter Yonchev, attends the 4th Antalya Conference organized by the Turkish Atlantic Council.
A Club delegation attends the Inaugural Assembly of the Atlantic Council of Slovenia, in Ljubljana.
Club representatives visit Vratsa, where they meet local officials and deliver a lecture on Atlanticism and foreign policy.

November

The Institute for EastWest Studies President Prof. John Edwin Mroz delivers a public speech sponsored by the Club.
Options for the Future Security Architecture for Central and Eastern Europe, an Institute for East West Studies workshop, is hosted by Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev and co-organized by the Club.
An Atlantic Club Restaurant opens at the Club’s Headquarters.
UN Under-Secretary General, Ambassador Vladimir Petrovski, delivers a late-night speech sponsored by the Club.
The Second Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition, November 1993 – March 1994, leaves Bulgaria for Livingstone Island, under the auspices of the Club. Expedition Leader is Prof. Christo Pimpirev, Director of The Atlantic Club’s Antarctic Programme and Director of the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute, co-founded by The Atlantic Club. Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev receives the Expedition before its departure.
The Tolerance and Civil Society Public Conference, co-sponsored by the Club, takes place in Kazanluk.
A Club delegation takes part in the Inaugural Conference of the Atlantic Council of the United Kingdom, of which The Atlantic Club is a founding member.

December

BASA, co-founded by the Club and the Bulgarian Government, receives court registration. The opening ceremony is attended by Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev.
Munich-based Suedost-Institut Deputy Director Dr. Franz-Lothar Altmann delivers in Sofia a public speech sponsored by the Club.
The Balkan Business Seminar, organized by GAAEC President, Theodossis Georgiou, is co-sponsored by The Club.
Christopher Donnelly, Special Adviser to NATO Secretary General for Central and Eastern European Affairs, delivers a speech at a late-night reception, sponsored by the Club.
The Bulgarian Parliament unanimously approves the Declaration stating that Bulgaria would join NATO. The Original text of the Declaration is submitted to Grand National Assembly in December 1990 by founders of The Atlantic Club.
The Atlantic Club’s annual Christmas Reception is attended by 1,200 people.

1992

February

A Chapter of The Atlantic Club is founded in Bourgas.
A Club delegation visits NATO HQ in Brussels and SHAPE HQ in Mons.
Dr. Passy delivers a lecture on environmental issues before pupils of Secondary School No. 138 in Sofia.

March

The Club sponsors the Bulgarian-German conference Democratic Bulgaria and Unified Germany in Modern Europe in Sofia.

April

Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev delivers a foreign policy lecture on the topic of Bulgaria within the European Structures, under the Club’s auspices at Sofia’s Central Military Club (attendance: 800).
Former CIA Director William E. Colby visits Bulgaria at the invitation of the President’s National Security Adviser General Stoyan Andreev, the Club’s Honorary Director. Colby delivers a public speech on the Prospects for the Future of Bulgarian-U.S. Intelligence Relationships, under the Club’s auspices, at Sofia University, then joins the Club’s Board of Honorary Directors.
A Chapter of The Atlantic Club is founded in Rousse.
USS Whidbey Island, the first ship of newest Amphibious Landing Ship Dock class, docks in Bourgas. The ship’s commander, Bruce E. Sonn (US Navy), delivers a public speech organized by The Atlantic Club’s Bourgas Chapter.
The first National Sports Tournament for The Atlantic Club Cup is held.
The first Annual Meeting of The Atlantic Club General Assembly. Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev and NATO Secretary General Manfred Woerner cable greetings to the Assembly.

May

UK Permanent Representative for NATO Ambassador Sir Michael Alexander delivers a speech sponsored by The Atlantic Club at Sofia University.
The Club leadership meets with a delegation from the National War College of the United States.
A Club delegation takes part in the Second International Seminar in Greece, Athens and Delphi, organized by GAAEC.
A farewell party in honour of Rod Moore, an Honorary Member of the Club from the US Embassy in Sofia, is organized. Moore accepts life membership of The Atlantic Club.

June

The Atlantic Club’s Gabrovo Chapter organizes a conference on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the launch of the European Recovery Program (“Marshall Plan”) in Gabrovo.
The Club leaders visit Smolyan, where they give a lecture on foreign policy and Atlantic values.
The Club leaders meet with a delegation of The Atlantic Council of the United States, led by General Carl E. Vuono (US Army), former Chief of Staff.
The Atlantic Club’s Bourgas Chapter organizes lectures by members of a visiting Belgian military inspection team and gives a reception in their honor.

July

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Philip Dimitrov, founding member and then Club’s Honorary Director, delivers a public lecture sponsored by the Club, on the topic of The Foreign Policy of Bulgaria, at Sofia’s Central Military Club (attendance: 700).
Dr. Solomon Passy and Prof. Dragomir Draganov, The Atlantic Club Director of Education, deliver public lectures at the Military Club of Pleven.
The Atlantic Club’s Bourgas Chapter organizes a publicity and gives a reception on occasion of the port call by US Sixth Fleet rescue and salvage ship, USS Grapple.

August

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria confirms its formal application for full membership in ATA.
The Atlantic Club, together with Rakovski Bulgarian Officers Legion Confederation (member of EUROMIL) and the Union for Private Economic Enterprise co-sponsor joint social security programme for retired military officers.

September

Spain’s Permanent Representative to NATO, Ambassador Carlos Miranda, visits Bulgaria as The Atlantic Club’s guest, delivers a public lecture on The Atlantic Alliance in the 90s, under the Club’s auspices, at Sofia’s Central Military Club, and moderates a round-table discussion on the Spanish Transition to Democracy, at Sofia University.
The Atlantic Club leadership meets with Lieutenant General P. Castelo Branco, Commandant of NATO Defence College in Rome.
Dr. Passy delivers a lecture on Atlantic values before the Bulgarian branch of Women’s International Zionist Organization (WIZO).
A Club delegation participates in the Young Political Leaders International Symposium, organized in Athens and Thessaloniki by GAAEC and AAYPL.

October

The Atlantic Association of Youth and Students’ Leaders are founded as Chapter of The Atlantic Club.
The Atlantic Club is represented at the Third International Antalya Conference on Security and Cooperation, organized by the Turkish Atlantic Committee. Addressing the Antalya Conference, NATO Secretary General Manfred Woerner highlights the role of The Club and its activities.
Club Council Members visit Bansko and meet town leadership.
The Atlantic Club is represented at the International Seminar on Security and Stability Needs for the Central European Region, organized in Bucharest by the Romanian Euro-Atlantic Center in cooperation with NATO General Secretariat.
At the 38th General Assembly in Copenhagen, ATA, inspired by The Atlantic Club membership application, creates an associate status for the first time in its 38-year history. The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria is the only organization to be conferred this status. At present, the ATA has 17 affiliate organizations.

November

A Chapter of The Atlantic Club is founded in Varna. The ceremony is part of an official programme of port call to Varna by an eight-vessel naval unit of NATO STANAVFORLANT. The Atlantic Club President Dr. Solomon Passy, Vice Admiral Ventseslav Velkov, Commander, Bulgarian Navy, and Rear Admiral Donald Dyer, Commander, STAVNAFORLANT, deliver public speeches.
Club Council members visit Petrich and meet town leadership.
Dr. Passy delivers a public lecture on Atlantic values at G.S. Rakovski Military Academy in Sofia.
The Atlantic Club advertizes NATO’s 1993 – 94 Democratic Institutions Fellowships.

December

The Club gives an annual reception on the occasion of its association with ATA, honoured by Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev. Speakers: Bulgaria’s Deputy Prime Minister Ilko Eskenazi and Greece’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Anastasse Sideris (NATO Contact Point) (attendance: 1,500).
The Atlantic Club sponsors a Christmas exhibition of young Bulgarian artist Dimitar Ugrinov.
Club Council visits Burzia, a Mountain Farm Base, part of the Higher Institute of Forestry and Forest Technology.
Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev, in his New Year message, highlights the association of The Atlantic Club with ATA as one of Bulgaria’s political successes of 1992.

1991

January

The first initiative group in support of the initiative of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria gathers in Sofia and proclaims the future establishment of the Club.

April

The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria is founded (4 April 1991).
Club activists push a bill through the Parliamentary National Security Committee that Bulgaria should integrate into NATO and WEU structures.
A Club representative takes part in the European Regional Project U.S.-European Security Issues, sponsored by the United States Information Agency.

May

A Baker-Genscher joint statement advocates for the creation of Atlantic Councils in Warsaw Pact countries.
The Director of Education of the US Atlantic Council John Baker visits Bulgaria and delivers a public speech sponsored by The Atlantic Club.
The Club leadership meets with a delegation from the National War College of the United States.

June

NATO Secretary General Manfred Woerner visits Sofia, addresses the Parliament, delivers a speech at Sofia University, confers with Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev and meets with The Atlantic Club, which is the organizer of the visit.
The Atlantic Club files a formal application for full membership of the Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA).

July

US Permanent Representative to NATO Ambassador William H. Taft IV visits Bulgaria and delivers a public speech under the Club‘s auspices at Sofia’s Central Military Club. Later, Ambassador Taft joins The Club’s Board of Honorary Directors.
A Club delegation participates in the Leaders’ Programme Civilian Oversight of Military Establishments in Post-Communist Central and Eastern Europe, organized by The Atlantic Council of the United States.
The US Permanent Representative at CFE Negotiations, Ambassador John J. Maresca, visits Sofia and meets with The Atlantic Club leadership.
The Warsaw Treaty Organisation is formally disbanded.

August

NATO Director of Information and Press Dr. Erika v. C. Bruce visits Bulgaria and meets with The Atlantic Club leadership.

October

His Holiness The XIV Dalai Lama of Tibet visits Bulgaria as The Atlantic Club’s special guest. He meets with Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev and the ACB’s leadership and delivers a public speech under the Club’s auspices at Sofia University.
Bulgaria’s Ambassador to the US, Ognyan Pishev, the Club’s Honorary Director, represents The Atlantic Club at the 37th ATA General Assembly in Washington, D.C. No formal decision is adopted by ATA on the Bulgarian application for membership.
The first local Chapter of The Atlantic Club is founded in Gabrovo.

November

Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev, a founding member and Honorary Director of the Club, visits NATO HQ in Brussels.

December

An inaugural meeting of the North Atlantic Cooperation Council is held at NATO HQ.
The Soviet Union is dissolved.

1990

August

Dr. Solomon Passy is elected to the Bulgarian Parliament. He starts to promote Bulgarian integration within NATO structures and delivers a speech based on the conclusions of a report stating that the USSR would soon disintegrate.

September

Bulgaria’s President Zhelyu Zhelev, MP Dr. Lyubomir Ivanov and MP Dr. Solomon Passy move to the Grand National Assembly that Bulgaria join the Allied Forces in the Persian Gulf.

October

The Grand National Assembly passes a Resolution on Bulgaria’s joining the Allied Forces in the War in the Persian Gulf.

November

Five MPs of different parliamentary groups visit the NATO Headquarters and SHAPE (first Warsaw Pact parliamentarians to have ever visited NATO HQ). There, they meet Secretary General Manfred Woerner and U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO William Taft and raize the issue of Bulgaria’s membership in NATO. They decide to establish The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.
The North Atlantic Assembly accords an associate delegate status to parliamentarians from Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland and the Soviet Union.

December

The Grand National Assembly passes a resolution moved by Solomon Passy and Lyubomir Ivanov and signed by 135 MPs, that Bulgaria orient its foreign policy towards accession to the European Communities.