site.btaObservances: March 22-23

March 23

The world: 

• World Meteorological Day;
• National Day of Pakistan: Republic Day (1956).

On this date in Bulgarian history: 

• 1923: Bulgaria and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes sign Nis Agreement on Joint Border Protection.
• 1989: Official opening of the 1,000-megawatt Unit 5 of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant. The generator is switched on the national power grid on November 29, 1988. 
• 1990: Diplomatic relations established with the Republic of Korea.
• 1996: Construction of Maritza East 2 Thermal Power Plant is completed with the opening of 215 MW Unit 8.
• 2006: The National Assembly adopts a Geodezy and Cartography Act.
• 2006: An Anti-Organized Crime and Corruption Department is set up with the Supreme Cassation Prosecution Office.
• 2006: The Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry unveils its first Bulgarian-based office in Varna.

March 24

The world:

• World Tuberculosis Day;
• International Day for the Right to Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims.

On this date in Bulgarian history:

• 1880: Dragan Tsankov forms a new government.
• 1943: Exarch Stefan defends the Bulgarian Jews in a sermon.
• 1959: Diplomatic relations with the US are re-activated (established April 24, 1901, severed 12 December 12, 1941, re-established October 1, 1947, suspended February 20, 1950).
• 1964: Ground-breaking for the Troyanovo 3 Coal Mine (part of the Maritsa-East Mines complex).
• 1966: The Chiren-Vratsa gas pipeline is completed. The opening of the Chiren gas storage facility in 1963 marks the start of Bulgaria's gas industry.
• 1999: The National Assembly ratifies the Convention on Co-operation for the Protection and Sustainable Use of the River Danube (Danube River Protection Convention) and the Agreement on Organizational Aspects of Combined Transport Services between Europe and Asia.