Remarks by Ambassador Beyrle at MFA Award Ceremony

June 27, 2008

Thank you Mr. Minister, dear Bulgarian and American Colleagues,

I am deeply moved and want to thank you for the great honor – the highest Ministry of Foreign Affairs Award. This award is especially dear to me because it comes from my fellow diplomats. Mr. Minister, I want to express once again my highest admiration to you as a professional, as a diplomat and as a friend. It’s true that together we managed to do some work for Bulgaria’s welfare. The work of every Ambassador is quite simple – to protect the interests of his or her country. Yet, how much easier and more delightful this work is when the interest of his or her country coincides with the interests of the host country- and I quickly realized that this is the case here in Bulgaria. Here we have a very good partner with whom we share common European values, because we in America also have European roots. We, as an Embassy, as diplomats have one goal -and it is for Bulgaria to become a stronger and more prosperous European democracy and if we manage to turn this ambition into reality together with you this will make us even happier because it is in our common interest. Once again, Mr. Minister, on behalf of my extraordinary team, which has always and in every possible way supported me, and from the bottom of my heart, I convey my gratitude to you and to the people of Bulgaria for your friendship.