Croatia commemorates Independence Day

Independence Day, June 25, in the Republic of Croatia is a memorial day marking the historic decision of the Parliament to initiate the process of disassociation from the other Yugoslav republics, adopted on June 25, 1991.

The historic decision of the Croatian Parliament to start the process of disassociation from the other Yugoslav republics on June 25, 1991 was preceded by such a decision of the citizens of the Republic of Croatia expressed in the referendum held on May 19, 1991.

Citizens made the following decisions:

1. The Republic of Croatia, as a sovereign and independent state, which guarantees cultural autonomy and all civil rights to Serbs and members of other nationalities in Croatia, may enter into an alliance of sovereign states with other republics. ("for" 93.24% of voters)

2. The Republic of Croatia will not remain in Yugoslavia as a single federal state." ("for" 92.18% of voters)

On the basis of such a manifestation of the will of the citizens, and after the failure of negotiations with the other former Yugoslav republics on exiting the state political crisis, the Parliament of the Republic of Croatia, at a joint session of all three parliamentary councils on June 25, 1991, adopted the Constitutional Decision on the Sovereignty and Independence of the Republic of Croatia, in which it is established that "with this act, the Republic of Croatia initiates the process of disassociation from other republics and the SFRY. The Republic of Croatia initiates the procedure for international recognition".

At the same session, the Parliament adopted the Declaration on a Sovereign and Independent Republic of Croatia.

Through the mediation of the international community, in order to facilitate negotiations on disassociation among the former Yugoslav republics, the Brijuni Declaration established a three-month delay in the application of the Constitutional Decision from June 25, 1991. However, with the expiration of the moratorium on that historic decision, on October 8, 1991, the Republic of Croatia severed its state-legal ties with other republics and became a free, sovereign and independent state.

 Prime Minister Plenković congratulated Croatia on Independence Day

On Sunday, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković conveyed greetings on Twitter for Independence Day of the Republic of Croatia, which is celebrated on June 25, and thanked Croatian veterans who fought for Croatia's independence.

Plenković pointed out that on Independence Day we commemorate the historic decision of the Croatian Parliament to start the process of disassociation from the other Yugoslav republics.

“We are eternally grateful to the leadership at that time, led by Dr. Franjo Tuđman and the Croatian veterans, who laid down their lives for freedom,” said the Prime Minister.

Congratulations from Parliament Speaker Jandroković

Croatian Parliament Speaker, Gordan Jandroković, sent a congratulatory message on the occasion of June 25 - Independence Day of the Republic of Croatia, which reads:

On behalf of Croatian Parliament and personally to all Croatian citizens, to all Croatians around the world, I congratulate you on Independence Day.

Independence Day commemorates June 25, 1991, when the Croatian Parliament adopted the Constitutional Decision on the Sovereignty and Independence of the Republic of Croatia and the Declaration on a Sovereign and Independent Republic of Croatia. The prelude to these state-making decisions, after the historic first year of Croatian democracy, was the referendum in May of the same year, in which the Croatian people expressed a clear and unequivocal desire to live in a sovereign and independent state. However, a long and arduous path of struggle for freedom had to be covered before the centuries-old dream of regaining state independence was realized.

Today is one of those prominent dates in modern Croatian history when we remember with special reverence and deep gratitude the sacrifice of Croatian veterans, as well as the engagement of all those who actively participated in the creation and defense of Croatia, led by the first president, Dr. Franjo Tuđman. Furthermore, we owe gratitude to all the members of Croatian Parliament at the time, as well as to the members of the Croatian government at the time.

After last year's merger of our national territory with the Pelješac Bridge, this January we upgraded the first decade of membership in the European Union by simultaneously entering the Schengen area and the Eurozone. With this, as well as membership in NATO, we achieved our planned strategic goals, but also built a solid foundation for achieving new ones.

Aware of all the efforts and sacrifices made on the way to the Croatia we have today, we are called to work continuously and dedicatedly in order to make it even safer and more resilient in the future, its institutions more efficient, the economy stronger, and society more tolerant and solidary. The continuation of our joint engagement on this path is at the same time the most concrete thanks for every sacrifice woven into our freedom and independence, but also a fundamental prerequisite for the further development of Croatia, for the benefit of all its citizens.

Therefore, to all Croatian men and women, to all Croatian citizens, to all those who have chosen Croatia as their homeland and to all those who love and respect it, once again I wish a happy Independence Day!"

Source: HRT