It is in Bulgaria's interest to have all Western Balkan states join Nato and the European Union, which would help curb any expansionist aspirations, Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev said shortly after the end of the Nato summit in Bucharest on April 4.

Stanishev's statement came after the alliance decided to put Macedonia on the membership waiting line until the country finds a solution to its name dispute with Greece.

“We failed to achieve our most optimistic plans, but miracles do not happen every day,” Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin said. He added that Bulgaria would broker support to Athens and Skopje alike in their attempt to resolve the dispute.

Kalfin said Macedonia stood the chance to “catch up” with Croatia and Albania, which could make possible for all three states to join the alliance simultaneously.

Bulgaria played an active role in Croatia and Albania's preparations to earn an invitation to start membership talks for Nato membership. In addition, Bulgaria brokered substantial support in reforming Macedonia's military forces.

In doing so, Bulgaria has given material evidence for its desire to see Macedonia in Nato, Defence Minister Vesselin Bliznakov said, rejrecting the allegations in Macedonian media that Sofia wanted its neighbour out of the alliance.

The fact that Russia and Nato signed an agreement, which allows Nato use Russian air space for non-military shipments shows that the parties to the agreement had common interests in the fight against terrorism, according to representatives of the Bulgarian delegation. Both Nato and Russia have changed since the fall of communism, Stanishev said.

According to Bulgaria's prime minister, Russia's reaction on Kosovo's declaration of independence during talks in Bucharest remained moderate and contained, contrary to expectations.