site.btaObservances: March 28-29

March 28

On this date in Bulgarian history:

• 1921: Association of the Bulgarian Blind is established in Sofia (renamed Union of the Blind in Bulgaria in August 1946).
• 1973: During forcible name change of Bulgarian Muslims, some 500 Interior Ministry officers are sent to the village of Kornitsa (Blagoevgrad Region, Southwestern Bulgaria), meeting with strong resistance from local people. Five are killed and 80 are wounded in clashes, 12 are imprisoned and 300 are resettled.
• 1995: Business Club of the German Economy (AKDW) is set up, to be succeeded by German-Bulgarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce on March 9, 2004.
• 1997: Bulgarian Judges Association is established.
• 2012: Council of Ministers adopts decision on abandoning project for construction of nuclear power plant at Belene (on the Danube, Northwestern Bulgaria). On March 29, 2012, Parliament backs government's decision.

March 29

Bulgaria:

• Day of War Cripples and Casualties in the Performance of Their Constitutional Military Duties (since 1993).

On this date in Bulgarian history:

• 1915: First society of war disabled veterans is set up.
• 1972: Diplomatic relations restored with Pakistan. Established in 1965, broken on January 13, 1972.
• 1990: Moratorium imposed on the repayment of Bulgaria's debt to foreign commercial creditors.
• 2000: Parliament ratifies the European Social Charter.
• 2003: National Association of Orphans in Bulgaria is set up.
• 2004: Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha presents to US Secretary of State Colin Powell the ratification instrument on Bulgaria's accession to NATO. Bulgaria thereby becomes a full NATO Member.
• 2012: Parliament votes a resolution upholding government's decision to terminate work on the construction of a nuclear power plant at Belene.