site.btaToday's Observances: July 8

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1879: Diplomatic relations established with France at diplomatic agency level (severed December 22, 1915, re-established August 27, 1920, upgraded to embassy level December 17, 1963).

1879: Diplomatic relations established with Germany at diplomatic agency level (upgraded to legation level May 21, 1909, severed September 5, 1944; established with GDR October 17, 1949, upgraded to embassy level July 11, 1953; relations established with FRG at embassy level December 21, 1973; FRG Embassy takes over all functions after Germany's reunification on October 3, 1990).

1931: Diplomatic relations established with Argentina at legation level (severed February 4, 1944, re-established November 12, 1948, upgraded to embassy level April 7, 1964).

1967: Bulgaria joins International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

1971: Sixth National Assembly elects State Council of People's Republic of Bulgaria, established by May 18, 1971 Constitution. Communist party leader Todor Zhivkov is irreplaceable State Council President until his ouster on December 17, 1989, when he is succeeded by Petar Mladenov. State Council is superseded by institution of Chairman (President) of the Republic on April 3, 1990, with Mladenov as first holder of this office.