site.btaObservances: March 7-8

MARCH 7

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1947: Diplomatic relations with Austria restored at legation level; promoted to embassy level June 20, 1963.

1947: Institute of Microbiology set up with Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

1964: Levski women's volleyball club win first ever European Champions Cup in Bulgaria's volleyball history. 

1990: Union of Participants in Patriotic War (1944-1945) is set up.

MARCH 8

The world:

- International Women's Day.

On this date in Bulgarian history: 

1864: First issue of the "Budoushtnost" newspaper under the editorship of revolutionary and writer Georgi S. Rakovski comes out in Bucharest. The last issue comes out on May 17, 1864.

1988: A public committee for protecting the environment of the Danubian city of Rousse is set up in Sofia. This green organization was a notable example of open opposition against the communist government eighteen months before the democratic changes of November 10, 1989.

1993: An Association Agreement is signed with the EU.

2001: Four units of Bulgarian-made equipment are flown on the Discovery Space Shuttle to the International Space Station, then under construction.