PHOTO: 17th Anniversary of Croatian Recognition

Minister Jadranka Kosor laid wreathes and candles at Mirogoj cemetery to commemorate the 17th anniversary of international recognition.

ZAGREB, CROATIA - The 17^th anniversary of the international recognition of Croatia was marked today at Zagreb's Mirogoj Cemetery, in front of the wall of pain the central cross and grave of the first Croaitan president Franjo Tudjman. The vice-president of the Croatian Cabinet and the Minister of Family, Veterans’ Affairs and Intergeneration Solidarity, Jadranka Kosor, laid wreathes and lit candles at the mentioned locations at Mirogoj Cemetery, as well as at the joint grave for the unidentified victims from the Croatian War of Independence.

“This is a moment when we should stop and bow down to those that are most responsible for defending Croatia, for a free and independent Croatia, and those are the Croatian veterans and first Croatian president” said Kosor.

Care for children of veterans

She reminded that family members are behind the deceased veterans, and that they live a hard life, and that the generation of their children is growing, who also have problems that the state needs to pay attention to.

Kosor warned of the problem of missing people, which is the most serious humanitarian problem in Croatia, and voiced that the Cabinet is doing everything for it to be solved as soon as possible.

She evaluated that Croatia has done a lot since its recognition.

“Now we need to recollect and be proud of it. Only 17 years have passed since recognition. That is a moment in history, and it is as if we have lived history sped up. What has happened to other countries in hundreds of years, occurred to us in less than 20” said Kosor.

International recognition

Tomorrow Croatia marks its 17^th anniversary of international recognition, to remember January 15, 1992 when the 12 members of the European Union at the time recognized Croatia. The international recognition occurred at a time when nearly one third of the country was occupied by the Yugoslav Army and Serbian paramilitary units, in the heat of a fierce war. The first Croatian president Franjo Tudjman declared that the day “would be etched in gold letters into the whole, fourteen century tradition of the Croatian people”.

After the EU recognized Croatia, other countries followed with their recognitions. So on January 15, 1992 the following nations recognized Croatia: Belgium, Great Britain, Denmark, Malta, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Hungary, Norway, Bulgaria, Poland, Italy, Canada, Australia, France, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Luxemburg and Greece. One day later the following countries recognized Croatia: Argentina, Czech Republic, Chile, Lichtenstein, New Zealand, Slovakia, Sweden and Uruguay. Those to recognize Croatia earlier were the Vatican, Germany, Iceland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovenia, the Ukraine and San Marino.

Take a look at the laying of the wreathes and lighting of candles in the photo gallery: 17^th Anniversary of International Recognition of Croatia.