site.btaObservances: February 15-16

Feb. 15

The world:

- Serbian Statehood Day (instituted on July 10, 2001);

- International Day of Children with Cancer.

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1891: The State Gazette promulgates Bulgaria's first trade agreements with France, Germany and Austria.

1945: The Narodna Prosveta publishing house is established, the largest publisher of textbooks in Bulgaria.

1946: The first issue of the Starshel weekly for humour and satire comes out.

1990: The Green Party, the first party political party after the fall of totalitarianism, is registered under the Persons and Family Act.

1994: Diplomatic relations established with Belize.

1997: The Union of Democratic Forces Coalition becomes a political party at its 9th National Conference.

2000: Bulgaria-EU accession negotiations open officially in Brussels. 

Feb. 16

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1872: Metropolitan Antim of Vidin elected first Bulgarian Exarch by Convention of Clergy in Constantinople.

1887: Pro-Russian military officers organize mutinies in Silistra and later, on February 19, in Ruse, against anti-Russian policy of Regent Stefan Stambolov. Three mutiny leaders are sentenced to death and executed on February 22, 1887.

1898: BTA releases its first news bulletin, hand-written by Telegraph Agency's Director, Oskar Iskander. The four-page bulletin has seven news items: on stock and commodity exchange prices, events in Balkans and health of Princess Clementine of Orleans, Prince Ferdinand I's mother. BTA celebrates its birthday on February 16.

2005: National Assembly passes Criminal Assets Forfeiture Act.