International conference "The Future of NATO," dedicated to the 10th anniversary of Bulgaria's membership in the Alliance, will be held on 3-4 April at the Central Military Club in Sofia. Organizers of the event are the Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Military Academy "G.S.Rakovski"and the Atlantic Club in Bulgaria. The conference is held under the patronage of the President Rosen Plevneliev with the special support of NATO and the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria. The event is part of the National Plan of initiatives with which our country will celebrate in 2014 the 10th anniversary of NATO membership. 

The forum will be opened on 3 April in 9.30 am with greetings from the President Plevneliev, Terry Stamatopoulos, NATO’s Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, Simeon Sakskoburggotski, Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria (2001-2005), Kristian Vigenin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Angel Naydenov, Minister of Defence, Marcie Ries, US Ambassador.

During the two days of the conference, prominent Bulgarian and foreign speakers will discuss the achievements during our membership in NATO and will outline the prospects for the development of the Alliance. The individual panels of the forum are dedicated to different topics, such as the Open Door policy, the transatlantic link, Afghanistan, capacity building and the Bulgarian contribution, the future of NATO partnerships, modernization and transformation of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria, the development of defense capabilities, the impact of Bulgarian membership on defense policy, etc..

Media representatives are invited to attend the international conference "The Future of NATO." The registration is open from 8.30 am to 9.15 am on 3 April after presenting a press card.

Following the end of the conference on 4 April, a gala concert dedicated tothe 10^th anniversary of Bulgaria's accession to NATO will take place. The event, which will be held at 6.30 pm at 1 Knyaz Alexander Battenberg Square,  is organized by the State Institute for Culture of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with the Ensemble of the Armed Forces and the National Guard Unit.

At 6.30 pm the Ensemble of the Armed Forces will perform a specially prepared program, and from 8.00 pm the National Guard Unit will present the ceremony "Sparks."