site.btaObservances: February 22-23

February 22

The world:

- European Day for Victims of Crime;

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1928: Professional ballet begins in Bulgaria: "Coppelia" by French composer Leo Delibes premieres in the country.

1945: The schism imposed on the Bulgarian Church by the Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1872 is lifted.

1961: Bulgaria establishes diplomatic relations with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (called Zaire until May 18, 1997).

1991: The National Assembly reintroduces private land ownership.

1996: The Jose Marti Foundation is set up to promote information sharing, cultural relations and business contacts between Bulgaria and Cuba.

February 23

The world:

- National Day of Brunei. Independence Day (1984);

- National Day of Guyana. Republic Day (1970).

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1871: Orthodox Church opens first Convention of Clergy and Laity in Constantinople (until July 24, 1871).

1902: American Protestant missionary Ellen Stone and her Bulgarian fellow missionary Katerina Cilka are released after being abducted on September 3 (August 21 old style) 1901 by Yane Sandanski and Hristo Chernopeev of Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization, who demand about 100,000 US dollars in ransom. 

1963: Bulgarian Television joins Intervision (est. 1960), Eastern Europe network for television programme exchanges, operating under umbrella organization OIRT (International Radio and Television Organization).

1971: Ground broken for Sofia's new Central Railway Station.

1994: First mobile radio telephone network formally unveiled; launched late in 1993. 

2007: In Washington, DC, Bulgaria and the US sign Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income.