Joining the United Nations

Bulgaria became a full member of the United Nations (UN) on 14 December 1955, together with another 15 countries. The decision to admit it was taken by the UN General Assembly on the recommendation of the organisation's Security Council. The admission of the People's Republic of Bulgaria to the UN was approved by 50 votes in favour, two against (China and Cuba) and five abstentions (Greece, the Netherlands, the Philippines, the United States and the Dominican Republic). It is worth recording that the Ethiopian delegate, who entered the chamber during the vote, also voted in favour of Bulgaria's admission.

At the initiative of the Soviet Union, the Security Council proposed admitting a total of 16 countries to the UN, including Bulgaria. The other countries on the list were Albania, Jordan, Ireland, Portugal, Hungary, Italy, Austria, Romania, Finland, Ceylon, Nepal, Libya, Cambodia, Laos and Spain.

This information was reported in the Bulgarian News Agency's (BTA) International Information bulletin of 15 December 1955.