site.btaObservances: January 11-12

January 11

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1944: Worst bombing of Sofia by British-American aviation during World War II (1939-1945), with 1,784 bombs dropped, 750 people killed, 710 injured, 3,211 residential and 93 public buildings destroyed, including Ivan Vazov National Theatre.

1984: Balkan Airlines Tu-134 airplane crashes on landing near Sofia, killing all 50 passengers and crew.

1996: Diplomatic relations are established with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

1997: Protesters in front of Parliament building demand early elections. Union of Democratic Forces MPs join them, while Democratic Left MPs are blocked inside. Protesters storm building and are dispersed by police and special forces around 4 a.m.

2002: The Committee for Disclosing the Documents and Announcing Affiliation of Bulgarian Citizens to the State Security and the Intelligence Services of the Bulgarian People's Army publishes Report No. 7 regarding a check on the MPs of the 9th (35th) National Assembly (1986-1990).

2003: Fifty-eight geographic sites on Livingston Island in Antarctic Peninsula are assigned Bulgarian names by presidential decree.

2007: The National Assembly holds a formal meeting on the occasion of Bulgaria's accession to the European Union.

2008: Energy companies from Bulgaria, Russia and Greece endorse a trilateral agreement on the establishment of Trans-Balkan Pipeline B.V., an international project company for the construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline.

January 12

Bulgaria:

Military Intelligence Day

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1892: First long-distance telephone line launched between Sofia and Plovdiv.

1908: Information Office of Armed Forces Staff is transformed into Intelligence Unit to become first military intelligence service.

1992: First direct presidential elections held. Dissident Zhelyu Zhelev elected president in January 19 second round of voting.

1994: Decision is made to sign framework agreement on participation in NATO's Partnership for Peace programme.

1998: Original copy of 18th century Slav-Bulgarian History by Paisius of Hilendar is returned to Zographou Monastery in Mount Athos. 

2001: National Assembly ratifies two agreements of World Intellectual Property Organization - on copyright and on performance and recordings.