ZAGREB, Jan 14 (Hina) - On 15 January 1992, Croatia was internationally recognised, and the last year's events paved the way for the accomplishment of the country's foreign policy objectives - the admission into EuroAtlantic
integration processes. "This day - 15 January 1992 - will be recorded with golden letters in the overall 14-century-long history of the Croatian people on this, for us sacred, soil between the rivers of Mura, Drava, Danube and the Adriatic Sea," said the then Croatian President Franjo Tudjman in his public address on that occasion nine years ago. Croatia was the acknowledged by countries in this order: Belgium, Great Britain, Denmark, Malta, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Hungary, Norway, Bulgaria, Poland, Italy, Canada, Australia, France, Finland and Sweden. Prior to that date, Zagreb received the international recognition by the Holly See, Germany, Island, Estonia, Lit
ZAGREB, Jan 14 (Hina) - On 15 January 1992, Croatia was
internationally recognised, and the last year's events paved the
way for the accomplishment of the country's foreign policy
objectives - the admission into EuroAtlantic integration
processes.
"This day - 15 January 1992 - will be recorded with golden letters in
the overall 14-century-long history of the Croatian people on this,
for us sacred, soil between the rivers of Mura, Drava, Danube and
the Adriatic Sea," said the then Croatian President Franjo Tudjman
in his public address on that occasion nine years ago.
Croatia was the acknowledged by countries in this order: Belgium,
Great Britain, Denmark, Malta, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands,
Hungary, Norway, Bulgaria, Poland, Italy, Canada, Australia,
France, Finland and Sweden. Prior to that date, Zagreb received the
international recognition by the Holly See, Germany, Island,
Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovenia, Ukraine and San Marino.
This process was triggered by the first acts made by the Vatican and
Germany.
The Vatican was the first to recognise Croatia on 3 October 1991. It
was followed by Germany on 18 December 1991. This act of Germany
stirred up criticism from some countries, but it launched
irreversible diplomatic action within the rest of the then European
Community members.
When other member-states of the European Community (now the
European Union) confirmed the international acknowledgement of
Zagreb, Bonn signed a protocol on the establishment of the
diplomatic ties between Germany and Croatia.
Reporting about relevant events, world news agencies emphasised
that the Yugoslav federation existed no longer (for instance, the
AFP) but they also cautioned that the recognition of Croatia and
Slovenia would not resolve problems in the region, and envisaged
tumultuous times in this part of southeastern Europe.
The international recognition of Croatia, however, did not mean the
final freedom for the country. In early 1992 almost one third of
Croatia was occupied by ethnic Serb rebels supported by the then
Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) that tried to implement Belgrade's
plans about a greater Serbia.
The 1995 operations of the Croatian army and police called 'Flash'
and Storm' put en end to the occupation. The liberation of the
largest part of the occupied areas made it possible for Croatian
authorities and United Nations representatives to conduct the
peaceful reintegration of the remaining occupied area - the
Croatian Danube River Area - in 1998.
Upon the 1995 police and military liberating operations, Croatia
found itself in the international isolation. Only in 2000, it
marked substantial progress in its bids to enter NATO and the EU.
The parliamentary and presidential elections in January and
February last year were viewed by international factors as free and
fair, and the new coalition government and new president were
warmly welcomed in the international circles.
In May 2000 Croatia was admitted into NATO's Partnership for Peace
Programme and later in the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Zagreb joined the trilateral group of Italy, Slovenia and Hungary,
which thus become a quadrilateral group, and also took active part
in the establishment of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative.
Last year the Council of Europe terminated the monitoring process
in Croatia as well.
The successes in the foreign policy were crowned on 24 November when
Zagreb hosted the biggest ever international political meeting in
Croatia. On that occasion heads of state or government of 15
European Union member-countries for the first time convened
outside the Union. The Zagreb Summit drew a total of 25 delegations
at the highest level. During that event, Croatia officially began
negotiations with the EU on a Stabilisation and Association
Agreement (SAA), and Croatian leaders hope the SAA will be signed by
the end of June this year.
However, at the end of the last year Croatia faced the worsening of
relations with the UN court for war crimes (ICTY) in The Hague. The
disagreement, caused by ICTY officials' criticism of Croatia and by
the unclear contents of the summons the tribunal forwarded to the
current Croatian army headquarters' chief--of-staff General Petar
Stipetic to give his testimony, can be removed during ICTY Chief
Prosecutor Carla del Ponte's visit to the Croatian capital,
scheduled for tomorrow (15 January).
(hina) ms