site.btaFebruary 17, 1997: Government Adopts Decision on Bulgaria's Accession to NATO

February 17, 2026 marks 29 years since the Bulgarian government decided that the country will seek full membership of NATO.

Bulgaria's path toward full NATO membership began shortly after the Cold War, marking a decisive shift away from the former Soviet sphere of influence and toward Euro-Atlantic integration. In June 1990, the Bulgarian Parliament initially expressed political interest in closer ties with the Alliance. The process gained further momentum when Bulgaria joined the Partnership for Peace programme in February 1994 to build military interoperability with NATO forces.

On February 17, 1997, Bulgaria's Council of Ministers adoptеd Decision 192 on full membership of Bulgaria in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). With it, the government declared the country's willingness to acquire full membership of NATO, expressed its desire for Bulgaria to be considered as a country ready to be invited to negotiations for accession to the North Atlantic Treaty, and assignеd the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defence to develop a national programme for Bulgaria's accession to the alliance. Throughout the late 1990s, the political will to join NATO solidified as the country undertook the necessary democratic and military reforms to meet membership standards. Bulgaria was formally invited to join the alliance at the Prague Summit in 2002. On March 26, 2003, the Protocol on Bulgaria's Accession to NATO was signed. On March 29, 2004, Bulgaria became a full member of the bloc. The accession was part of NATO’s largest post-Cold War enlargement, which simultaneously welcomed seven new Central and Eastern European nations.

The following are original news items by which BTA's English News Service covered this event:

Bulgaria Will Declare Desire to Join NATO, Cabinet Decides

Sofia, February 17 (BTA) - At a meeting Monday the caretaker cabinet decided to declare Bulgaria's desire for full membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).  "The Cabinet would like Bulgaria to be treated as a country ready to be invited to negotiations on accession to NATO," the cabinet decision says.  It assigned Foreign Minister Stoyan Stalev and Defence Minister Georgi Ananiev to work out a national programme for Bulgaria's accession to the North Atlantic Alliance.

The Council of Ministers took this decision by consensus.  It was coordinated with and backed by President Peter Stoyanov, Mr Stalev told reporters. "Bulgaria needs urgent inclusion into the programme of study of applicants for accession to NATO," he said. 

"Today's declaration is just a beginning, we need a forceful campaign to present our foreign policy interest in joining NATO," the Foreign Minister observed.  "Bulgaria stands definite chances of not being underrated as an applicant," Mr Stalev said, referring to the decisions which the North Atlantic Alliance is to take in June on its eastward enlargement. 

In its foreign policy, the interim government will prioritize lobbying in NATO member states, publicizing Monday's decision and possible talks at NATO's headquarters, the caretaker chief diplomat also said. Inside the country, the cabinet will seek to achieve broad consensus on the matter of Bulgaria's NATO membership and to maximize the country's psychological and technological adaptation to the conditions for accession, Mr Stalev added.

He stressed to reporters Bulgaria's active involvement in NATO's Partnership for Peace initiative and in peacekeeping operations. Bulgaria joined PFP in February 1994 and since then has taken part in a number of joint military exercises with the other PFP Partners and the Allies on its and their territory. 

Widening multilateral and bilateral cooperation is being pursued between Bulgaria, the PFP Partners and the Allies in military technology, military science, military medicine, personnel training, information services etc.  Bulgaria is also interested in joint military-industrial production and mastering know-how under NATO standards. Back at the end of 1993, the National Assembly stated in a declaration that Bulgaria will avail itself of the opportunities for cooperation with the European and Euro-Atlantic structures, including NATO, with a view to joining them if and when they enlarge and with consideration for the country's national interests.  However, no political and public consensus on the matter has been achieved.

In the 36th and the 37th National Assembly, the Union of Democratic Forces campaigned for Bulgarian membership in NATO. Ex-president Zhelyu Zhelev also backed the idea. The leaders of the Bulgarian Socialist (ex-Communist) Party have repeatedly stated during the last few years that because of the lack of a broad public consensus on the matter and its crucial importance, it has to be considered very carefully and all consequences of such decisions weighed.  The Socialists, however, did not say how long this should take.  Individual politicians have also spoken in favour of Bulgaria declaring active neutrality.

Meeting with NATO Secretary General Javier Solana, Bulgarian Ambassador Boiko Noev handed him the Bulgarian Government's declaration expressing this country's will for full membership in the organization and its readiness to open accession talks.  Mr Noev requested that the interior ministers, who will gather for a meeting of the North Atlantic Council on Tuesday, February 18, be acquainted with the Bulgarian declaration.

Secretary General Solana hailed the Bulgarian Government's decision which is an important step in the common efforts to build a new security architecture in Europe, as well as in strengthening regional stability and security.

In a television interview Russian Ambassador Leonid Kerestedjiants said:  "This is a decision of the Bulgarian government, probably taken after a weighing-up of the pros and cons. And yet it should be thought over a little longer." In his view, Russia does not see an anti-Russian attitude behind the decision. "We believe your President's assurances that he is a guarantor of Russian-Bulgarian relations," Ambassador Kerestedjiants said.  He pointed out, however, that the decision cannot go down without any consequences at all.  "We will try to make them as small as possible," he said.  Asked if the consequences would be linked to strategic projects involving Bulgaria and Russia, he answered in the negative.  "Projects, whether strategic or large-scale, express our bilateral and multilateral interests and have nothing to do with military-strategic decisions," the Russian ambassador said.

 Asked to comment on the government's decision on television, German Ambassador Peter Metzger said:  "Any country which states a desire to join NATO is welcome." He said this is Germany's long-standing position.

President Stoyanov:  NATO Membership Is As Much A Matter of Policy As of Industry

Sofia, February 17 (BTA) - In an address to the nation Monday

Bulgarian President Peter Stoyanov stressed the significance of the Bulgarian Government's decision to declare a will for joining NATO.

"For us NATO membership is as much a matter of policy and joint exercises as of industry, economy and trade," said the President.  He believes NATO membership will strengthen the whole national security system, modernize the Bulgarian army, boost the prestige and dignity of Bulgarian officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers.

He said that, of course, Bulgaria will not become a NATO member overnight.  "First, we must pull out of the crisis.  I am aware that today you are more worried about the bread issue.  But tomorrow when there will be bread, we should not have missed steps of strategic importance for Bulgaria, steps which we must take today," the address went.

The Bulgarian Head of State said Bulgaria will pay a high price for its entry into NATO but "we are bound to pay a much higher price if we stay out of NATO".

Earlier in this century Yalta drew borders cutting Bulgaria off for decades from democratic Europe where it belongs and now we must make sure Bulgaria does not end up in a "grey area of ambiguity on the political map of the Continent", said the President.  /IT/LN/