Bulgaria
Bulgaria is а country located in the South-Eastern part of Europe and has a total area of nearly 111 000 square kilometers. Its population is 7 707 495 and the official language is Bulgarian. Bulgaria is a republic, headed by a President who is also a commander-in-chief of the Army. As to religion, about 83 % of the population is Orthodox Christian. Due to the strategic position of the country, the climate is temperate, with mild winters and hot summers. The generous and varied nature of Bulgaria includes 16 mountains, 2000 caves, more than 550 healing mineral springs, an outlet on Black sea with a coastal strip of 380 km , as well as diverse flora and fauna. All this makes it a desired destination both for ski and sea tourism. The capital of the country is Sofia, and its currency is the Bulgarian lev (1euro = 1,95 lev).
Despite its turbulent 13-century history, Bulgaria is the oldest state in Europe to have kept its original name. Khan Asparukh is considered to be the creator of the First Bulgarian State in 681. In 1018, Bulgaria got under Byzantine slavery which lasted for 168 years, until the Second Bulgarian Kingdom in 1186. About two centuries later, the Turks conquered the territory of Bulgaria, and during the next five centuries the state is under Ottoman rule. Although it was an official province of the Ottoman Empire and had to comply with Turkish laws, Bulgaria managed to keep its alphabet, language and culture. During the 19th century, after an organized rebellion, and with strong Russian support, the Turks were defeated and Bulgaria was declared an independent state under the terms of the Treaty of San Stefano in 1878. The last Bulgarian king - Boris III - died in 1943 and the country government was taken by the Bulgarian Communist Party, which ruled Bulgaria for 45 years. Since 1989, elections for a President of the Republic of Bulgaria are being held once per five years.
Bulgaria is a member of the following internation organizations: UN (since 1955), NATO (since 2004) and EU (since2007).