News Archive

On October 10, Acting USAID Administrator and Director of Foreign Assistance Henrietta Fore and USAID Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia Douglas Menarchik joined more than 400 guests at Sofia’s Kempinski Hotel in paying tribute to Bulgaria’s graduation from Support for East European Democracy (SEED) development assistance, the closing of the USAID Mission in Bulgaria, and the continuing U.S.-Bulgarian partnership. The closing ceremony, which celebrated seventeen years of partnership and progress, was attended by prominent representatives of Bulgarian civil society, media, business, government, the judiciary, and academia. Mission Director Michael Fritz, Ambassador Beyrle, Minister of State Administration Nikolay Vassilev, Rayna Gavrilova, Executive Director of the Trust for Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe, Stefan Ivanov, Country Officer for Citigroup in Bulgaria, and Hristo Ivanov, attorney at the Bulgarian Institute for Legal Initiatives, provided their personal and professional perspectives on key aspects of the U.S.-Bulgaria partnership.

Acting Administrator Fore’s visit to Sofia highlighted the sustainability of partnerships forged with USAID assistance and Bulgaria’s role as a regional leader and emerging donor. She met with Speaker of Parliament Georgi Pirinski; visited the National Institute of Justice and engaged in a discussion with students; met with key USAID partners and government counterparts; and presented a Superior Honor Award to USAID current and former staff.

Each participant in the closing ceremony received a certificate that a tree will be planted in their name in Sofia’s South Park, to perpetuate the partnership forged over the past 17 years. The Mission and Sofia Municipality will organize the official planting of approximately 500 trees in November.