site.btaToday's Observances: October 13

The world:

- UN International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction;

- European Road Safety Day.

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1945: Plovdiv Philharmonic stages first concert. Set up in spring of 1945 by conductor Vladi Simeonov.

1991: Parliamentary and local elections held. Opposition Union of Democratic Forces, set up after November 10, 1989, wins for first time. 

1999: Fences along Bulgarian-Greek border are removed.

2000: Bulgaria joins European Environment Agency as full member.

2003: Intellectual Property Centre is unveiled with Sofia's University of National and World Economy, to operate as a branch of the World Intellectual Property Organization Worldwide Academy. 

2006: Thracian Treasures from Bulgaria exhibition opens at Musee Jacquemart-Andre in Paris (on display until end-January 
2007).