US president George W. Bush sent a letter to President Georgi Purvanov expressing his support for Bulgaria's EU accession.
EU enlargement played an important role in guaranteeing prosperity and democracy in Europe, Bush said. The country's EU-related reforms would create an investment-friendly environment and would boost the economic relations between Bulgaria and the US, he added.
US ambassador to Bulgaria John Beyrle gave the letter to Purvanov personally during a meeting on June 30. Beylre and Purvanov discussed economic relations between the two countries and US investment in Bulgaria.
Among the large investment projects in the country Beyrle listed the Maritsa Iztok thermal power plant and the first Hewlett Packard service centre, which provided over 1 000 work places. Microsoft and Google also showed interested in creating centres in Bulgaria, Beyrle said.
Bulgaria's EU accession also received support from French President Jacques Chirac. France was positive Bulgaria and Romania had the capacity to meet all EU requirements and to enter the union on January 1 2007, he said. Bulgaria's action plan for EU related reforms was 'important and positive element', Chirac said.
