Bulgaria’s President Georgi Parvanov said the country’s membership to the EU and NATO strengthens the national independence.

The statement was made at the opening of a conference, dedicated to the 100th anniversary since Bulgaria’s independence proclamation to be marked on September 22.

“Nowadays, we could say that holding strong and effective state system, the stable economic growth and the construction of modern infrastructure are among the most important parts of our independence,” the president explained.

“The fact that Bulgaria proclaimed independence and unification proves we have great national dignity,” Parvanov added.