CHRONOLOGY OF CROATIA'S INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

ZAGREB, Jan 14 (Hina) - On Jan. 15, 1992 the Republic of Croatia was recognised by the European Union's 12 members at the time, and this date is considered to be one of the most important events in Croatian history. In 1991 Croatia had already been recognised by Slovenia on June 26, Lithuania on July 30, the Ukraine on Dec. 11, Latvia on Dec. 14, and Estonia on Dec. 31, but these were states which themselves had not been recognised yet. The first internationally recognised country which recognised Croatia was Iceland on Dec. 19, 1991, the same day as Germany which, however, decided to make its decision effective on the next Jan. 15, together with the other EU members. Before the Union states, Croatia had been recognised by the Holy See on Jan. 13, 1991 and San Marino the day after. The following Jan. 15 saw Croatia recognised also by Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Hungary, Malta, Poland, and Switzerland. Argentina, Australia, Chile, the Czech Republic, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Slovakia, Sweden, and Uruguay did so on the 16th. By the end of January 1992 Croatia had been recognised by another seven states: Finland on the 17th, Romania on the 18th, Albania on the 21st, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Brazil on the 24th, Paraguay on the 27th, and Bolivia on the 29th. The first Asian and Islamic country to recognise Croatia, excluding Turkey, was Iran on March 15, 1992, and the first African state to do so was Egypt the following April 14. Russia recognised Croatia on Feb. 17, 1992, Japan on March 17, the United States on April 7, Israel on April 16, although diplomatic relations were established five and a half years later, and China on April 27. The May 22, 1992 admission to the United Nations made Croatia an equal member of the international community. Today Croatia nurtures diplomatic ties with some 120 countries. (hina) ha sb