DURING an official visit to the US from October 17 to 19, President Georgi Purvanov and a Bulgarian delegation received US support on a number of issues.

Emerging from a meeting with Purvanov, US president George W. Bush thanked Bulgaria for its role in the international anti-terrorist coalition.

"Your country has been a strong example for democracy," Bush said.

"You understand, as I understand, that the march of democracy will lead to world peace. I want to thank you for being a part of a vast coalition that helped liberate 50 million people."

Purvanov said that he had confirmed that his country would remain a member of the anti-terrorist coalition.

"Bulgaria highly appreciates the US support for its efforts to be a solid member of NATO and to join the European Union in 2007, as planned," Purvanov said.

He expressed thanks for the acknowledgement that Bulgaria was a stabilising factor in the Balkans.

During his 50-minute meeting with Bush, Purvanov discussed the strategic partnership between the two countries, the modernisation of Bulgaria's military and the case of the five Bulgarian nurses sentenced to death in Libya.

Purvanov also had meetings with US senators, state officials and members of the Bulgarian communities in Chicago and Boston, as well as with representatives of corporations and think tanks.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin, who was part of the Bulgarian delegation, had talks with US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice. She promised to raise the issue of the Bulgarian nurses in Libya during her contacts with Libyan authorities.

The two foreign ministers also discussed joint military facilities of the two countries in Bulgaria.

Kalfin said that some issues called for more detailed consultations, but that both sides wanted the negotiations to conclude as quickly as possible, and for their outcome to be in the interest of both sides.

Kalfin said he hoped that consultations on the form of Bulgaria's future participation in Iraq would end soon.

"There are no requirements of Bulgaria in this respect. For the US it is important that we remain part of the coalition," Kalfin said.

He said that US military aid for Bulgaria would increase.

Bulgaria was also represented by Economy and Energy Minister Roumen Ovcharov, Defence Minister Vesselin Bliznakov, Parliament's defence committee chairperson Angel Naidenov, the President's administration chief secretary Krassimir Stoyanov, and Bulgaria's ambassador to the US, Elena Poptodorova.