CROATIA MARKS 11TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

ZAGREB, Jan 15 (Hina) - Exactly eleven years ago - on 15 January 1992, in the midst of raging war conflicts, when almost one third of its territory was under occupation by the Yugoslav army and Serb paramilitary units, Croatia was internationally recognised by 12 European Union member-states. #L# On the same day, the country was also recognised by Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Hungary, Malta, Poland and Switzerland. Before this date, which the first Croatian president, Franjo Tudjman, described as "the day to be entered in gold in the 14- century-long history of the Croat people", Croatia had been recognised, in the course of 1991, by Slovenia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Latvia and Estonia, which at the time were not independent states. The first internationally recognised state to recognise Croatia was Iceland, which did so on December 19, 1991. On the same day, Croatia was recognised by Germany, which decided that its recognition should become effective on January 15, 1992, the day when Croatia was recognised by other EU member-states. Particularly important was the acknowledgement by the Holy See, which recognised Croatia on January 13, 1992. The Holy See had announced that it would recognise Croatia and Slovenia in a special document made public on December 20, 1991, which noted the Vatican's stand towards the countries' request for diplomatic recognition. One day later, Croatia was recognised by San Marino. By the end of January 1992 Croatia was recognised by seven more countries - Finland, Romania, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia. The first Asian and Muslim country (not including Turkey) to recognise Croatia was Iran, and the first African country was Egypt. By the time it was admitted to the United Nations on May 22, 1992, Croatia had been recognised by Russia, Japan, the United States, Israel and China. Croatia today has diplomatic relations with more than 120 countries. (hina) rml