Afghanistan: Georgia Guard welcomes visit from Bulgarian president

By Army Master Sgt. Janet Hill
648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade

KABUL, Afghanistan – After being in office for only a little over 30 days, the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Rosen Plevneliev, and his delegation paid a special visit to his deployed Bulgarian soldiers, Feb. 29, 2012, here on Camp Phoenix.

Before the Bulgarian president's arrival to Camp Phoenix, the Bulgarian honor guard was in place to welcome and salute Plevneliev at Patriot Square.

Plevneliev also met with the president of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, during a visit to Kabul earlier on Feb. 29 before making his way to Camp Phoenix later that same day, where he met with the Bulgarian soldiers and leaders along with Army Col. Andy Hall, commander of 648th Task Force Hydra, the Kabul Base Cluster Command.

Plevneliev spoke about solidarity and thanked the American military for what they are doing for their people and for helping the Bulgarian army to integrate within the most effective family of military.

“Leaders, as president of Bulgaria, I am talking to them, that it is very important to come here to show solidarity to our plans, to stay to the plans and be effective," Plevneliev said. "I came here also because I hope that the other colleagues will come the same way."

"Thank you for what you're doing for our people. Thank you for helping the Bulgarian army integrate within the most effective family of military," he said.

"Strong coalition partnerships are very important, and it means a lot when the president of a country makes it a priority to experience what it's like on the ground for his soldiers," Hall said.

"I am honored that I had the opportunity to sit down with President Plevneliev."

The visit came days before a series of Bulgarian Celebrations, such as the March 1 Baba Marta, or "Grandmother March," a celebration that welcomes spring, and the March 3 Liberation Day.